Children and Parents Search for Butterflies at Pyramid Mountain

Over a dozen boys and girls ages 2 to 12 were able to see first hand how a caterpillar metamorphosis into a butterfly at the Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area on Boonton Avenue in Montville on Aug. 11.

"The monarch butterflies spend the winters in Mexico," said Joan Maccari, a naturalist Pyramid Mountain. "They arrive sometime around the Day of the Dead [November 1]." 

Maccari further explained to the children that so many butterflies in one place that "the beating of their wings sounds like thunder. "

"Scientists only figured out they went to Mexico in the early 1970s," she said. "However, the local Mexicans had known about it for centuries." 

Maccari and her fellow Morris Parks employee, Megan Turner, led the children and parents to the gardens to teach the kids and adults how to spot caterpillars in the park's milkweed gardens, which are specific for monarchs.

"The caterpillars and the butterflies only eat the milkweed leaves," said Maccari. 

Maccari was pleased with the turnout for the event, siting that the area offers many different programs, not just events aimed at children.

"We offer programs like this for different age groups," said Maccari. "And we are glad to do it. " 

Steve Kwack, a father of two children, Ocean, age 5, and Sarah, age 2, said he was glad to bring his kids to this event. 

"It is great just to get the outdoors and to learn something new," said Kwack. 

Amanda DeGroot, the mother of a 3 year-old son, said her son had fun. 

"This was just a fun chance to learn more about the outdoors," said DeGroot, of Kinnelon. 

Maccari said she hoped that the kids will learn they can go into their backyard and view nature in a different way. 

"We want kids to learn that it is fun to be outdoors and it gets them excited about the natural world around them," said Maccari. "They learn to become scientists in their own backyards."