Butterflies are fascinating to adults and children alike. Their fluttering wings bring giggles from children and smiles from adults. West Hill Dam, in conjunction with the Building Bridges Community Outreach for Early Education Program and the Uxbridge Police Department Interagency Office, held a Monarch Story Walk Sept. 13 at the dam.
About 10 families totaling 45 people attended the hour and a half event. West Hill Dam Park Ranger Viola Bramel and Emily Murray of Building Bridges took residents through the walk. Panels of the book, “A Place for Butterflies,” by Melissa Steward were posted for the families to read during the walk. “The panels were beautifully illustrated and were original prints from the book,” said Bramel. “Worcester Senior Center volunteers sealed the panels with a high gloss, moisture resistant varnish and mounted on storyboards that attached to the post they provided.”
Bramel said the story was very appropriate as Monarchs are being considered for the endangered species list. “Silver Streaks are already on the list,” she said. “We have a few Silver Streaks at West Hill.”
In addition to reading the story panels, participants explored the dam’s milkweed plants for Monarchs or their larvae which are a very prevalent population in the West Hill Dam area. Bramel said that everyone had a wonderful time. “They were so excited and had walked three quarters of a mile without realizing it,” she said. “We saw so many other things including hawks. One little girl giggled the whole time, which made the walk all the more enjoyable.”
Some families had three generations – grandparents, parents and children – spend the day together at the dam, enjoying the story walk, the butterflies and the beautiful grounds at the project. “Families and even adults without children told us how much they loved the story panels,” said Bramel. “It was a grand family time.”