Monarch Butterflies As They Begin Migration to Mexico
By Shireen Korkzan
Posted Sep 2, 2026
Monarch butterflies roost in a cedar tree in late August 2026 at Stonington Peninsula, a sub-peninsula of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Photo: Carol Schlitz
[Episcopal News Service] Every year in late August and early September, thousands of monarch butterflies gather at Stonington Peninsula, a sub-peninsula of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and wait for favorable weather and wind patterns before they begin their nearly 2,000-mile migration to central Mexico, where they will settle for the winter.
Most of these lightweight insects – up to 90% – won’t survive the nearly two-month journey because of harsh weather conditions, predators, light pollution, pesticides and a lack of food available on their route, but their survival is necessary for North America’s ecosystem. As the monarch butterflies fly south, roughly 50 to 100 miles daily, they will feed on wildflowers and crops, transferring pollen and helping plants, including food crops, reproduce in the process.
Episcopalians in the Marquette-based Diocese of Northern Michigan, which serves the state’s Upper Peninsula, and fellow Yoopers understand and appreciate the monarch butterflies’ importance. That’s why about 100 people gather every year at Peninsula Point Lighthouse for the annual “blessing of the monarch butterflies” event hosted by UP Wild Church, a ministry of the Diocese of Northern Michigan and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Northern Great Lakes Synod.
Northern Michigan Bishop Rayford Ray, who will bless the butterflies on Sept. 2, described the act as “definitely relational” and “an act of reverence.”
“To bless [the butterflies] is to participate in something sacred for me, and to be blessed by them is to receive a grace that honestly cannot be spoken, only felt,” Ray told Episcopal News Service in an email. “Blessing is a way of saying that we see the goodness God sees. … Blessing makes me aware of the relationship we have with God’s creatures and all of life.”
Established in 2019 in Marquette, UP Wild Church now has eight branches that hold nondenominational nature prayer services and community engagement events, such as tree planting, and wilderness walks in the Upper Peninsula’s abundant natural settings – pine forests, inland lakes and the freshwater shores of Lake Superior. Church members also address through education and advocacy the environmental crises that threaten those places.
UP Wild started the “blessing of the monarch butterflies” in 2021 as both a spiritual tradition and an opportunity to teach adults and children about the butterflies’ life cycle, migration process, their crucial role as a major pollinator species, causes of their population decline and ways to prevent them from becoming endangered.
Blessing migratory creatures, including monarch butterflies, “is an ancient practice of pilgrimage – a journey to a hold place which leads us into personal transformation – that our souls ache for,” Lanni Lantto, UP Wild Church’s co-founder, told ENS in an email.
After members of UP Wild Church introduce themselves and the church’s ministry, the blessing event will commence. It will include group singing, an acknowledgment that the Upper Peninsula was first inhabited by the Anishinaabe people, a lecture on the butterflies, drumming and meditative breathing. Participants will also gather anything natural they can find nearby, such as leaves, rocks and sticks, that Carol Schlitz, a member of UP Wild Church, will combine to form a butterfly mandala structure.
“It’s a grounding activity to put everyone in the right frame of mind before the blessing officially begins,” Schlitz told ENS. “For me, as a nature photographer, I see God in everything.”
There’s no guarantee the butterflies will still be near Peninsula Point Lighthouse by the time the blessing event starts because they base the start of their migration on weather conditions, wind speed and wind direction. If they are still around, a volunteer from Monarch Watch, an education, conservation and research program based at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, will explain the importance of tagging the butterflies to track their migration patterns and survival rates. Participants will then be invited to catch the butterflies in large nets, identify their sex and place the tags on their wings before releasing them.
Sue Jamison, a member of UP Wild Church and a retired first grade teacher, has been a Monarch Project volunteer for 25 years. When she was a teacher, her class spent the first month of the new school year learning about monarch butterflies. She would bring monarch caterpillars into the classroom so that her students could witness them feed, grow, form chrysalides and hatch into butterflies 10 to 14 days later. After they hatched, Jamison taught her students how to identify the butterflies by sex (males have two black spots – scent glands – in the center of each lower hind wing) and chart how many females and males they had.
“My students loved the monarch project; I’m sure it’s a project they’ll never forget,” Jamison told ENS. “By learning about the monarchs’ importance and learning about their journey south and witnessing their natural beauty, I hope more people can appreciate everything they bless us with. The least we can do is bless them, learn about them and do our part to help ensure their survival as a species.”
From egg to flying adult, non-overwintering monarch butterflies – the generations that don’t migrate south – typically live four to five weeks. In her short lifetime, a female butterfly can lay between 300 and 500 eggs. However, fewer than 10% of eggs and caterpillars survive to become adults because of predators, parasites, extreme weather conditions and habitat and food loss. Milkweed is the only plant that monarch caterpillars eat and the only plant that adults use to lay their eggs.
“We’re always encouraging people to grow pesticide-free milkweed and let the plants grow. If you see milkweed, don’t cut it,” Schlitz said. “They’re resilient plants that will grow just about anywhere, and monarchs need them for survival.”
The migrating generation, however, can live for six to nine months if they survive their journey. Some will fly as far as 3,000 miles, depending on their starting point. The survivors will arrive in Mexico by the end of October or early November, coinciding with Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, on Nov. 1 and 2. In Mexican culture, monarch butterflies symbolize the souls of ancestors returning to visit their families.
After spending winter resting in the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve within the Sierra Madre Mountains, across the border of Michoacán and Estado de México, the orange, black and white insects will begin their multi-generational migration back north in March. The migrating butterflies that survived the winter in Mexico will fly to the southern United States, mate, lay their eggs and die. The next generations will do the same over two- to five-week life cycles until they reach the northern United States and southern Canada in late May or early June. Throughout the summer, the butterflies will continue pollinating as they feed on sweet nectar. Soon, the next migrating generation will begin a new journey south to Mexico.
“When we bless monarchs at Peninsula Point, we turn toward them with love and gratitude and acknowledge that we share this world with them and they share their presence with us,” Ray said.
Donation
The Colorado Yoopers have sent another donation to the U P, from funds collected at the annual picnic
The annual picnic was a blast like all of the past years, and Carl Johnson sent $500.00 to the Coppers Shores, for the benefit of Little Brothers, which will be matched.
Anyone knowing of UP individuals moving to Colorado, have them reach out to us at www.coloradoyoopers.com.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Yooper mates, I thought you would like to know that Yooper Karl Anuta has been named to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Museum of Boulder.
He’s to receive the award on October 25, 2025, at the museum’s annual gala, which will be held at the brand new Limelight Hotel in Boulder. Congratulations to Karl!
The Pasty Republic
On May 7, the Denver Post featured “Restaurant dishes we loved in April.” Among the restaurants was The Pasty Republic, 4166 Tennyson St. and 26125 E. 3rd St., in Denver.
The article said The Pasty Republic drew the writer in “with the heavenly smell of pasties and the savory handpies visible form the open front door.” The writer called it “a quick, satisfying and delightfully straightforward lunch.”
Their pasties go for $12 each.
2025 St Urho Celebrations
The Colorado Yoopers and members of the Finlandia Society had an enjoyable evening, gathering at 303 Sports Bar & Grill to celebrate St. Urho’s Day.
The imaginary saint (said to have saved Finland’s wine crop from grasshoppers) was not present, but Yoopers’ chair, Suisan Thornton, read an Ode to St. Urho in English, with supplements in Finnish by Ron Kaminen. Those present also learned the “Schottische,” a simple couples line dance popular in the U.P. of Michigan as well as in countries across Europe.
Thanks to all who attended!
Happy 90th Birthday, Ron!
Our founder, Ron Kaminen, celebrated his 90th birthday in January this year!
Yoopers Celebrate St. Urho in 2024
On March 7, 2024, the Colorado Yoopers and members of the Finlandia Society celebrated St. Urho, who is said to have driven the grasshoppers out of Finland, thus saving the wine crop!
Turnout at the 303 Sports Bar and Grill (which is owned by a former Yooper) was low on what turned out to be a rainy/snowy evening, but a good time was had by all as we caught up on memories of the U.P. and life in general.
If you have suggestions for fun activities or events that Yoopers would enjoy (in addition to the picnic), please let us know!
Save the Date for St. Urho Celebration!
On March 7, 2024 the Colorado Yoopers will celebrate St. Urho, the patron saint of Finland who saved the wine crop by driving all the grasshoppers out of Finland!
We hope our friends from the Finlandia Society will also join us at 303 Sports Grill, 8025 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton 80123.
Starting at around 4:30 to 5:00 pm, you can order your own food and libations from the menu. Then stick around to meet old and new friends, and perhaps sing some St. Urho songs! St. Urho’s colors are lime green and purple.
Successful Yooper Picnic 2023!
By Susan Thornton
Approximately 70 Yoopers and friends attended the 2023 Yooper Picnic in September of 2023!
This fun event, held at Carl Johnson’s office in Lakewood, included delicious donated food and items as well as special pasties from the Superette in Mohawk, MI. (My husband and I have tried them, and agree that they are bigger than usual and much tastier!!)
Carl anticipates that $500 will be donated this year to U.P. charities – and there are still some pasties left for a donation of $7 each. So donations to U.P. charities could be even higher if you order soon. To order some of these frozen Yooper yummies, contact Carl’s office at 303-987-3626.
Stay tuned for the 2024 St. Urho celebration (you know — the saint who allegedly drove the grasshoppers out of Finland) – together with the Colorado Finnish Society in March.
And be on lookout for the Colorado Yoopers Picnic, both dates yet to be determined!
2023 Yooper Picnic Date Announced
The 2023 picnic will be held at noon on Sept. 24 at Carl Johnson’s office, 12640 W. Cedar Drive, Lakewood, CO 80228.
Colorado Yoopers Announce Grant to Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly
The Colorado Yoopers are proud to announce a grant of $2,000 to Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly. The grant is being matched by another $2,000 from the Portage Health Foundation.
Founded in 1998, the Colorado Yoopers is an informal group of former UP residents who gather for an annual picnic that raises money for Upper Peninsula nonprofits. Application forms for 2020 grants are available at www.ColoradoYoopers.com.
Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly is a volunteer-based nonprofit dedicated to relieving isolation and loneliness among the elderly in Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga, Ontanogon and Marquette counties.
Past grants have been made by Colorado Yoopers to Schoolcraft County Summer Day Camp, Crystal Falls Contemporary Center, Keweenaw Family Resource Center, Room at the Inn (Marquette), Heat and Soles 906 (Iron Mountain), VFW Post 4573 (Ishpeming), and Amasa 125th (Amasa).
The 2019 picnic was attended by Yoopers from across the entire UP. Those attending met friends, had a luncheon, accepted donations for pasties, held a silent action and played games.
To reach the Colorado Yoopers, visit www.ColoradoYoopers.com, or call the office at 303-987-3626 and ask for Susan, from Manistique; Carl, from Escanaba; or Ron, from Rock. The Yoopers’ next event may be a winter gathering, hockey game, movie or play — or maybe even an axe throwing party!
First-Ever St. Urho Celebration Held March 17, 2023
It was a lively evening on March 17 when the Colorado Yoopers sponsored the first-ever celebration of St. Urho, the saint who allegedly drove the grasshoppers out of Finland. The event was supported by the Finlandia Foundation of Colorado and held at 303 Sports Bar and Grill, which is owned by a former Yooper.
About 30 Yoopers and Finnish-Americans attended the event, which included introduction of the Yooper’s founders, Ron Kaminen and Carl Johnson. Susan Thornton oversaw bidding on a giant stuffed toy grasshopper, a poem about St. Urho was read, and two Finnish-Americans sang the St. Urho song.
There was much lively chatter as old friends reunited and new friendships were formed. Watch for another celebration of the mythical Finnish saint in 2024!
Grant-Making History: The Colorado Yoopers Make Grants to U.P. Charities
Founded in 1998, the Colorado Yoopers is an informal group made up of former U.P. residents who gather for an annual picnic that raises money for Upper Peninsula nonprofits.
The most recent grant was made in 2019 to Little Brother-Friends of the Elderly, a volunteer-based nonprofit dedicated to relieving isolation and loneliness among the elderly in five counties: Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga, Ontanogon and Marquette. The grant was matched by the Portage Health Foundation.
The Colorado Yoopers was unable to hold its picnic in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 concerns, and the 2022 picnic did not make any money and so no grants were made. The Yoopers will hold their 2023 picnic in the fall and hope for more successful financial donations.
Past grants have been made to the following nonprofits:
- Schoolcraft County Summer Day Camp and After-School Program (Escanaba),
- Crystal Falls Contemporary Center,
- Keweenaw Family Resource Center (enrichment for young children),
- Room at the Inn (Marquette),
- Heat and Soles 906 (Iron Mountain),
- VFW Post 4573 (Ishpeming),
- U.P. Kids (foster care, adoption and treatment for troubled youth) and
- Amasa 125th (Amasa).
If the 2023 picnic is successful, an application form for 2023 grants will be available at www.ColoradoYoopers.com. Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) organization.