Cole Family Monarch Conservation Center & Butterfly House
See beautiful native butterflies up close and discover how you can put conservation into action by choosing garden plants that serve as hosts and food sources for pollinators in the Cole Family Monarch Conservation Center & Butterfly House!
Experience Info
Cost, per person: Included with general admission or membership
Availability: Open daily: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Seasonal, mid-May – early September
Capacity: The exhibit can accommodate 40 individuals at once
Guidelines
- Park strollers in the hall.
- No food or drinks are allowed inside.
- Butterflies may land on or touch you – but please do not touch them.
- Leave flowers for butterflies, please.
- Stay on the path, not in the garden.
Meet the Butterflies & Moths
This season, the eastern tiger swallowtail, giant swallowtail, painted lady, mourning cloak, red admiral, question mark, and luna moth will join the monarch butterfly to help raise conservation awareness for this butterfly season.
Take Action to Save Species
Create a safe stopover area for monarch migration:
Plant native flowering plants. Fuel their travels with a diverse buffet. Be sure to include milkweek – the only host plant for monarchs!
Don’t mow, let the flowers grow. Taller grasses create habitat for pollinators. Not ready to stop mowing? Try letting a small section of your yard grow and watch for new visitors!
Use fewer pesticides and fertilizers. Reducing or eliminating chemicals on your lawn and gardens creates safer, healthier habitats for pollinators!
Remove invasive species. Invasive and non-native plants often bloom early, depriving native plants of sunlight and soil nutrients. Remove them so native plants can thrive, creating healthy habitats for pollinators!
Community Science Opportunities
Journey North: Track Monarch Butterfly Migration
Monarch Larva Monitoring Project: Collect data on larval monarch populations and milkweed habitat
Monarch Joint Venture: More ways you can help!
Monarch Watch: Founded in 1992 by Dr. Orley “Chip” Taylor at the University of Kansas, is a program dedicated to monarch butterfly education, conservation, and research, particularly during their fall migration.
Butterfly Highway: The North Carolina Wildlife Federation Butterfly Highway is a statewide habitat restoration initiative that restores pollinator habitats, unites communities, and supports wildlife in urban and agricultural areas.
Certified Wildlife Habitat: The North Carolina Wildlife Federation supports wildlife habitat, garden, and restoration programs unique to the flora and fauna native to our state.
Conservation Note
The Greensboro Science Center is a proud partner of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums' SAFE North American Monarch program. AZA SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction focuses the collective expertise within AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums and leverages their massive audiences to save species.
