Untouchable to Possible: Atiya's Reflection
- Atiya Haider
- May 26
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 22
By Atiya Haider, RTR Reflection Runner-up & Half Hollow Hills High School East Senior
The Monarch Raise, Tag, and Release (RTR) Program was an excellent experience. From this program I learned how monarch butterflies grow from caterpillars to butterflies, how to take care of them myself, how to tag them, and the importance of it all. I learned the different stages—called instars—of a caterpillar. I got to see every single one of those stages up close, which now reflecting back on it, is seriously amazing! The process of feeding them and cleaning up after them made me feel like I was taking care of a pet, and I loved that. When tagging the butterflies, I learned how to hold them properly. I always thought they were "untouchable," because my whole life I was told I cannot hold them. Now I know it is possible, as long as you do it gently and carefully. That made me feel so much better!
The importance of monarch butterflies is that they are major pollinators in North and Central America. This is mainly because of the long journey down to Mexico in the fall. Tagging the butterflies is important because that aids research that finds how far the butterflies go. This program helped me better understand the actual importance of helping monarch butterflies specifically. They are endangered, and having a major pollinator be endangered can be detrimental. Additionally, I have gained more knowledge on milkweed, such as the different types, as well as on native plants in general. One reason why native plants are important is because they have more nectar for pollinators like butterflies. I also now know what a monarch butterfly egg looks like! I remember my first time finding one on a milkweed plant at the Rewild Dodge Garden, it was cool to see.
This program was so great that I want to raise monarch butterflies again! I might try to see if I can do it again next year. I already knew I wanted to go into the environmental field in my future, but this program has given me a way to personally become even closer to that. I did help the environment in some way, even if it was so small. I can share this experience with others and it may inspire them to do the same by raising monarchs or even at least helping out butterflies and pollinators by planting native plants. That way, the small impact this program made on me can lead to a big one on the world. It was truly wonderful to help raise, tag, and release two beautiful monarch butterflies! <3
Watch Atiya's monarch butterfly release video!
Stay tuned for more RTR Student Reflections on the Monarch Moments blog!
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