BUTTERFLIES IN THE HOUSE. Beaver Creek Reserve's Butterfly House attraction is celebrating its 25th anniversary this season, and after a tumultuous spring which led to an outpouring of community support, it's a particularly special year for the organization.

Beaver Creek Reserve’s Butterfly House is a serene home to Mourning Cloaks hidden between foliage, Monarch “J”s dangling gently in the breeze, Swallowtails under magnified eyes, and friendly folks immersed in learning about it all. Celebrating 25 years this summer, the Butterfly House playfully brings beauty, wonder, and education, emphasizing Wisconsin’s native and necessary small insects, under one roof.

“Over the last 20 years, the United States has seen a significant decline of butterfly populations,” Kristen Giefer, marketing and program director for Beaver Creek Reserve (BCR), explained. “It’s important, now more than ever, to visit and learn what people can do to support our butterflies and bring awareness to their decline and habitat loss.”

Butterflies housed in the Butterfly House are either caught by staff and volunteers using nets, or raised in the BCR's Caterpillar Lab, dedicated to raising Monarchs.

Typically closed to the public, the Lab will be open for Butterfly Fest, slated for Sunday, Aug. 3. Butterflies are added throughout the season, with the House open every year from July 5 through the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend.

“Depending on when people visit, they could see a new species each time, based on which stage that species is at during its life cycle,” Giefer stated. Folks can also buy butterfly feeders for $1 each to carry around the House to attract butterflies, hoping to get an up-close interaction.

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WE LIKE TO SAY THAT BEAVER CREEK RESERVE WAS BUILT BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS

back in 1947 who wanted outdoor educational opportunities for youth and people of all ages, and this just shows how true it continues to be 78 years later.

KRISTEN GieFER

BEAVER CREEK RESERVE MARKETING & PROGRAM DIRECTOR

In April, roughly 300 organizations statewide lost their AmeriCorps funding, including local orgs such as Girl Scouts of Northwestern Great Lakes, Chippewa Valley Museum, and BCR. For BCR, the federal funding cuts equated the potential loss of several staffers whose salaries were funded by AmeriCorps (one-third of BCR's staff are AmeriCorps members). BCR made a public statement about the loss and how it would impact its operations, including the potential discontinuation of its Butterfly House attraction.

BCR has fundraised about $120,000 since April 26, thanks to both individual and community partner donations (whose donations were then matched by supporters Lisa and Richard Erickson) – almost $50,000 more than a typical fundraising year.

“We like to say that Beaver Creek Reserve was built by community members back in 1947 who wanted outdoor educational opportunities for youth and people of all ages, and this just shows how true it continues to be 78 years later,” Giefer said. “We are incredibly thankful for all the donations we received in such a short amount of time.”

On June 5, a federal judge ordered restoration of AmeriCorps grant funding to about 24 states, including Wisconsin. Now, the roughly $120,000 BCR fundraised will go directly to their endowment in case future cuts happen again; their AmeriCorps program will be reinstated.

This year, to celebrate 25 years of the Butterfly House, BCR will host its annual event with food, drinks, and time to explore the House and Snapper’s new home (their resident snapping turtle!), for those signed up to visit Thursday, July 10. Folks can also find new Butterfly House anniversary T-shirts in the BCR store. The Butterfly House also adorns a new netted roof and wing sculptures, located in front of the Butterfly Pavilion and Wise Nature Center.

“This is why donations are so important,” Giefer emphasized, “to support future generations and improvements so we can keep our Butterfly House around for another 25 years!”

Beginning July 5, the Butterfly House is open Monday-Saturday from 11am-3pm and Sundays from 12-3pm. Admission to the Butterfly House, Nature Center, trails, and play spaces are $8 per adult, $5 per youth ages 2-15, and free for children 2 and under; daily admission is free for BCR Members. (Please note that the Butterfly House will be closed on rainy days, so be sure to check the day's weather before heading over.)

Learn more about Beaver Creek Reserve and the Butterfly House online at www.beavercreekreserve.org. Keep up with the organization on social media (@BeaverCreekReserve).