06/27/2026
This is a great event hosted by the Chickasaw Cultural Center!
We were honored to partner with the Chickasaw Cultural Center on the Monarch Butterfly Day the past few years. This is an amazing event hosted at the Chickasaw Cultural Center in September. Today the Monarch Butterfly Day was recognized for the Excellence in Partnerships award at the Oklahoma Conference on Volunteerism in Stillwater, OK.
Monarch Butterfly Day
The Monarch Butterfly Day partnership reflects a powerful, long-term commitment to conservation, cultural education, and community engagement. This event began in 2016 with the help of the Tribal Environmental Action for Monarchs coalition, including the Euchee Butterfly Farm, Monarch Watch, and multiple tribal nations. In addition this team worked together to plant more than 50,000 milkweed plants across Oklahoma.
Today, the partnership includes:
Chickasaw Cultural Center,
Chickasaw National Recreation Area,
Tishomingo Wildlife Refuge,
Euchee Butterfly Farm/Tribal Alliance for Pollinators,
Oklahoma and Texas Native Plant Societies,
Okies for Monarchs,
The Nature Conservancy,
Blue Thumb,
South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center,
4‑H Innovators,
Pontotoc County Master Gardeners,
and the Pontotoc County OSU Extension.
These partners stay deeply connected to the community through educational programming, cultural demonstrations, youth activities, and hands‑on conservation projects.
Monarch Butterfly Day has grown into a full‑campus, family‑friendly celebration blending science, culture, and environmental stewardship. The 2024 and 2025 events featured activities such as the 12‑station scavenger hunt, sidewalk chalk art, butterfly tattoos and bracelets, photo booths, cultural games, language bingo, and stomp dance demonstrations. The Anoli’ Theater offered family‑friendly programming throughout the day, and live music, social stickball, and cultural demonstrations enriched the experience.
Across the campus, partners hosted educational booths and hands-on activities. The National Park Service and Tishomingo Wildlife Refuge provided wildlife and habitat demonstrations. The Master Gardeners led children’s crafts, monarch trivia, and gardening Q&A sessions for the adults. The Oklahoma and Texas Native Plant Societies shared native plant education, while the Tribal Alliance for Pollinators and Euchee Butterfly Farm hosted a butterfly tent and habitat board. Okies for Monarchs offered photo props, wildflower seeds, and planting guides, and The Nature Conservancy, Blue Thumb, and the Climate Adaptation Science Center offered conservation science activities. 4‑H Innovators engaged youth with STEM‑based programming.
In addition, the Chickasaw Cultural Center also distributed more than 3,500 native plants and 750 caterpillar kits at the 2025 event, empowering families to create pollinator habitat at home. These efforts complement year‑round workshops, school programs, community science monitoring, and pollinator garden installations.
The success of Monarch Butterfly Day is rooted in strong, collaborative teamwork among volunteer groups, tribal partners, federal agencies, and conservation organizations.
As the Chickasaw Cultural Center shared following the 2025 event, “It truly takes a community to make something like this a success, and we couldn't have done it without your support. Together, we're making a difference for the Monarchs and our native pollinators.” This spirit of cooperation exemplifies how diverse partners can unite around a shared mission to build a stronger, more resilient community.
Impacts and Outcomes
The impact of this partnership is visible across the region. Monarch Butterfly Day continues to break attendance records, with 1,506 visitors in 2025 and 1,629 visitors in 2025. Thousands more are reached through year‑round workshops, plant distribution, and conservation programming.
Conservation outcomes are significant. In 2025, partners distributed more than 3,500 native plants and 750 caterpillar kits during the event, while the Chickasaw Cultural Center distributed an additional 8,600 plants throughout the year. The campus now includes more than 80 native plant garden beds supporting migrating monarchs. Community members report increasing numbers of pollinator gardens, and many families return annually to expand their habitat efforts. Parents frequently share that Monarch Butterfly Day is their children’s favorite educational event, and partners note growing public awareness and enthusiasm for pollinator protection.
