We are a movement of youth across North America dedicated to saving the monarchs.
Our mission is to save the monarchs from extinction, one garden at a time.
We encourage young people to plant microhabitats for monarchs where they can lay their eggs on milkweed, complete metamorphosis, and feast on the flower nectar they need as they migrate between the east coast of the United States and Canada and their overwintering sites in Mexico or as they migrate from the northwest coast to California.
Noah in February 2022, Piedra Herrada monarch butterfly reserve, Mexico
The story of Monarch Defenders founder, Noah Raven
I am 12 years old and live in Philadelphia. I recently traveled with my family to the oyamel fir forests of central Mexico, where monarch butterflies from all over the eastern United States and Canada roost during the winter. The site is up a steep mountain path, which we reached by riding horses. Butterflies hung in huge clumps on the trees and flew all around us as we stared in amazement.
But these spectacular creatures are at risk. Eastern monarch butterfly populations have declined by more than 80% and western populations (monarchs that travel to California instead of Mexico) have declined by more than 90% due to pesticide use, habitat loss, and climate change. Future generations need to be able to experience the awe of millions of butterflies waking from their hibernation and filling the air with streaks of orange.
So I started the Monarch Defenders, a group of youth across North America dedicated to protecting the butterflies. To become a Monarch Defender, you create a small habitat of milkweed and pollinator plants for the monarchs. We track all these new habitats on our interactive map. Our group also works to educate others about these remarkable butterflies, offers practical advice on how to start and sustain a monarch-friendly garden, provides information on political actions, and provides links to suppliers of milkweed and additional information.
Together we can protect the monarchs and save them, one garden at a time. Please join us!
To read more about Noah’s story, check out this article in the Chestnut Hill Local newspaper.