10/24/2025
Meet one of the organizations that volunteers with us!! 🦋
Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory is a privately owned tourist attraction in Cambridge, Ontario, featuring a lush tropical garden filled with thousands of free-flying butterflies, exotic birds, and tropical plants. They combine science education with wonder —offering engaging exhibits, live insect displays, and a unique Emergence Window where visitors can watch butterflies take their first flight. Guided by a commitment to education, conservation, and research, the Conservatory provides interactive programs for schools, families, and community groups, while inviting all visitors to connect with the beauty and importance of the natural world.
Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory began incorporating Project Monarch Health into their annual Monarch Tagging event several years ago. Most of their PMH samples come from this event, which is held during one of the first couple weekends in September.
“We demonstrate and educate about the tagging through Monarch Watch, as well as about the spread of OE and Project Monarch Health. In this way we’re both contributing to citizen/community science, while educating others and also showing them the importance of contributing to these projects,” says Andalyne Tofflemire, the Conservatory's naturalist.
This month, they have featured the local Woolly Bear caterpillar and how insects overwinter! Although butterflies are their main focus, they like to include moths as much as possible since they are a keystone invertebrate in many ecosystems.
Their team consists of a variety of departments including administrative, guest services, educators & nature interpreters, cafe and wedding staff.
“A lot of us have varying backgrounds in wildlife biology, outdoor education, environmental science and museum studies just to name a few. We generally are all nature-loving folks into bugs, birds and all kinds of critters, passionate about conservation and education.”
Outside of Project Monarch Health, Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory is proud to have been involved with conservation efforts for the endangered Mottled Duskywing (Erynnis martialis) over the last 5+ years. As part of the Ontario Butterfly Species At Risk Recovery Team, they were an integral part of the first successful reintroduction of a butterfly in Ontario! The next species their team plans to work with is the endangered Frosted Elfin (Callophrys irus).
Want to get involved? Here’s what’s coming up:
FEBRUARY: Visit them on Family Day to meet live animals in their Critter Corner!
MARCH: During March break, join them for their Magical Morpho event featuring thousands of Blue Morpho butterflies and others!
“We are glad to help get the word out. It’s an important conservation message that people’s actions in their own backyards have significant effects on our wildlife.”
Thank you Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory for supporting our project! 🐛
