Thanks for your interest in monarchs and for contributing to our understanding of these incredible insects!
Why are monarchs great citizen science subjects? First, a lot of people working together can contribute a lot to our collective understanding and conservation of this insect. Second, monarchs are easy to observe and identify and have an iconic status as a symbol of the natural world and our connections to it. Finally, the MLMP is fun for everyone!
Looking to monitor with kids? Check out our tips here!
Virtual MLMP Training Workshops
Be a citizen scientist with the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP)! The MLMP team from MJV and the UW-Madison Arboretum co-lead virtual one-day training on how to collect data that contributes to our knowledge about the monarch population. Participants learn about monarch biology, monitoring procedures, and data entry protocols and are able to ask monarch biologists their questions about monarchs and monitoring.
Live virtual MLMP training sessions are typically held in the spring and early summer each year. Our 2024 dates for live virtual training are:
- Western Region | January 31, 2024 | 9am-2pm, with 1-hour break at noon, Pacific Time
West of the continental divide: California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico
- Southern Region | February 24, 2024 | 10am-3pm, with 1-hour break at noon, Central Time
East of the continental divide and south: Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and all states in Mexico
- Northern Region | April 18, 2024 | 10am-3pm, with 1-hour break at noon, Central Time
East of the continental divide and north: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and all Canadian provinces
The above geographic areas are approximate based on timing of the monarch migration and milkweed emergence. These training sessions will focus on specific points related to these regions, but if a different date works better for your time or schedule, feel free to choose that date!
This year, registrants will also gain access to our new MLMP Online Course offered at the Monarch NECTAR Hub at learn.monarchjointventure.org after the live training is completed. This will include videos on identifying milkweed, monitoring, and more. A recording of the live training will also be available.
Reach out to info@mlmp.org if you have any questions about these trainings. If cost is a barrier to your participation, and you would like to request financial support, please email learn@monarchjointventure.org
After Completion
- Share feedback about the MLMP online training to info@mlmp.org.
- Create a Certificate of Completion for yourself with your name and the date.
Monarch NECTAR Hub Asynchronous Training Course
Like the live virtual workshops, the MLMP asynchronous training course on Monarch Joint Venture's Monarch NECTAR Hub will show registrants all the details about monarch biology and monitoring with the MLMP. Participants take the asynchronous course at their own pace and on a self-determined schedule; registrants also will be able to ask monarch biologists their questions about monarchs and monitoring in a monthly live Q&A session. Learn more about this opportunity and register at learn.monarchjointventure.org.
If cost is a barrier to taking this course, and you would like to request financial support, please email learn@monarchjointventure.org
In-Person Training Sessions
You can attend a training session given by a trainer in your region. See the map of upcoming training sessions below. If there is not an MLMP training session scheduled for your area, you can still get started with the Monarch NECTAR Hub MLMP course or contact us at info@mlmp.org to watch a recording of an online training workshop tailored to your region. Note that since these online training workshops cost participants $50 to attend, there is a suggested $20 donation to gain access to these recordings.
Interested in becoming a trainer?
- Visit our Become an MLMP Trainer page to learn how to become a trainer.
- Announce an MLMP Training Session on our For Trainers Resource page to advertise a training session.
- Email info@mlmp.org to add or remove yourself as a Trainer on this map.
Upcoming Training Sessions
Search for a Trainer (points) or upcoming Training Session (stars) near you. Click on the icon for more information. CLICK HERE for larger map.