Thursday, September 27, 6:00 PM doors open / 6:30 PM program begins
Presented by: Blue Ridge Community College, Conserving Carolina, Hendersonville Bee City USA, Asheville Bee City USA, Mountain True

Audience: All ages
Location: Blue Ridge Community College – Thomas Auditorium (in Sink Building), 130 Eagles Reach Drive, Flat Rock
Cost: Free!
Registration: None required.

Come celebrate the local migration of monarchs at Blue Ridge Community College with a special screening of “Flight of the Butterflies”.  This awe-inspiring film tells the story of extraordinary insect endurance and human perseverance. Viewers will learn about the remarkable annual life cycle and migration of the monarch butterfly as well as the determined Canadian scientist, Dr. Fred Urquhart, who spent 40 years trying to determine exactly where the butterflies went after mysteriously disappearing each fall. Described as “a natural history epic and a compelling detective story,” this interconnected scientific adventure spans not only thousands of miles, but generations.  The award-winning production team filmed hundreds of millions of monarchs in their remote overwintering sanctuaries in Mexico and along their migratory routes from Canada, across the U.S. and into Mexico.  Following the screening, international monarch butterfly expert and educator, Estela Romero, will make a special presentation with time for questions and answers about her home near the monarch’s overwintering sanctuaries in the mountains of Mexico.  Estela will also share her family’s memories of experiences with monarchs prior to their “discovery” and revelation to the rest of the world in 1976. Learn more about what you can do to help monarchs and other pollinators by visiting the Bee City USA/Bee Campus USA, MountainTrue, and Conserving Carolina exhibit tables.

Conserving Carolina will provide a free native milkweed plant (limit of 1 per household, please) to the first 50 attendees to come by! Planting milkweed helps monarchs by providing leaves for their caterpillars to eat as well as nectar to help the fuel the flight of adult butterflies.