Mission Statement/Vision
MONARCH LANDING FOUNDATION “Mission Statement/Vision”
Why do we exist - (what is our higher purpose)?
The Monarch Landing Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering the concept of the “Monarch Camino” as a new way to honour and explore the cultural heritage of the Monarch butterfly, its life cycle and migration.
What actions do we take to fulfill our purpose?
We preserve, protect, stabilize, and enhance habitat for the monarch butterfly in Canada, primarily along essential Great Lakes shorelines. We also contribute to building sustainable eco-tourism along the Lake Erie shoreline corridor and on historical migration routes, through the U.S. and to the Mexican UNESCO designated World Heritage sites.
How do we work? What are our non-negotiable, sacrosanct principles?
We foster the concept of sustainability in all aspect of living.
We ensure our work is in support of our communities and our planet.
We always work collaboratively.
Lake Erie iced up on a cold January day looking southwest from Monarch Landing towards Point Pelee.
the monarch camino
The Monarch Butterfly Camino
The Monarch Butterfly Camino is a concept that parallels the idea of traditional religious pilgrimages to sacred sites around the world.
It combines the concept of “Religious Pilgrimage” with “Nature Pilgrimage” to honour nature by immersing the pilgrim in this magnificent natural, annual journey. It is our vision and hope to achieve this by following sections of the natural seasonal migration routes of the iconic Monarch Butterfly.
This well-known species in its annual, amazing and inspiring journey, predates all human Religious pilgrimages. To honour nature as the rightful “god” metaphor of a fragile planet that is being assailed on all fronts, this Monarch Camino offers a new paradigm of pilgrimage.
The idea of “Camino” (Spanish for “Journey”) is enshrined in hundreds of years of history along many converging pilgrim roads. These European roads converge primarily to three sacred Christian sites: Jerusalem, Rome and Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. Other religions, the world over, parallel the concept of pilgrimage, for Muslims to Mecca and for Hindus to the Ganges temples.
The Monarch butterfly, in its captivating annual saga, mimics the compelling power of pilgrimage. Its migration routes converge (the same as traditional pilgrim routes), culminating in its arrival with millions of its compatriots. They hang for months in the cathedral of Oyamel Fir trees, in a few, sacred Mexican sites. The butterflies are only awakened in early spring by that same, life-giving Egyptian sun god Ra.
The Boardwalk at Point Pelee National Park
the monarch camino
The Monarch Butterfly Camino
Warmed by the lengthening ride of the sun god's chariot across the Mexican spring sky, the Monarchs mate, and then start their northward journey once again. This cycle renewing sacred life on planet earth.
Initially, and in Canada, we see the “Monarch Camino” as following the converging shorelines and adjacent lands of the lower Great Lakes. Any spot that annually hosts migrating monarchs in large numbers could conceivably be designated a “Monarch Camino” nexus point.
The original nexus point of the concept is our home property here at Monarch Landing, a registered “Monarch Waystation” of Monarch Watch, created and administered at the University of Kansas. (www.MonarchWatch.org). We have tabulated between 1.5 and 2 million monarchs passing this shoreline in the 24 years since Monarch Landing was founded in 1997. That year was perhaps the last “GREATEST” monarch migration year in recent history in Canada.
We hope and anticipate that the other important “Reserve” and park sites in Canada. particularly those few designed as important in the 1997 trilateral agreement between Mexico, Canada and the USA, will come on board and adopt the concept to foster improved habitat for the Monarch. This would encourage “Sustainable Eco Tourism”.
A cluster of hibernating Monarch butterflies in one of the Mexican reserves in Michoacan State
key sites on your journey
Port Burwell Provincial Park
Port Burwell Provincial Park
Port Burwell Provincial Park
Having fun on the Monarch Camino
..There goes a butterfly !!....
Port Stanley
Port Burwell Provincial Park
Port Burwell Provincial Park
Ride the rails of the historic Port Stanley Railway,
munch fresh apples
Relax have a beer on the beach
...There goes another butterfly !!....
Rondeau Provincial Park
Point Pelee National Park
Point Pelee National Park
Explore rare plants, a beautiful beach, great birds
and the largest tulip trees in Ontario
...Oops did you see that butterfly !!....
Point Pelee National Park
Point Pelee National Park
Point Pelee National Park
Congratulations, you have reached the terminus of the Canadian Monarch Camino
(Be sure to get your Camino passport stamped!!)
...Wow so many butterflies...
Monarch Camino Routes
Welcome tO lAKE eRIE NORTH SHORE
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