PEC shows love for monarchs with youth program, seed packets
The Pedernales Electric Cooperative is teaming up with schools, parents, and educators to teach young students the importance of monarch butterflies and how to protect them.
Each year, millions of monarchs migrate across PEC’s 8,100-square-mile service territory. The cooperative’s new monarch youth education program will inform students about the vital role these pollinators play in the Central Texas ecosystem.
“We’re proud to launch a new and exciting program that will help teach young children about the incredible monarch butterfly,” said Caroline Tinsley Porter, PEC’s Community Relations manager. “Together, we can do our part to help these important pollinators thrive, so they’ll continue to be around for generations to come.”
The program offers free educational materials, including videos, worksheets, lesson plans, and tips for planting a pollinator plot. Parents and educators can access the materials at pec.coop/monarchs-edu.
As a continuation of the co-op’s commitment to monarchs and preserving Central Texas resources, PEC also planted five butterfly way stations to help monarchs along their migratory path. Two of these way stations, located at PEC headquarters, 201 S. Avenue F in Johnson City, are certified by Monarch Watch, a nonprofit that aims to create, conserve, and protect monarch habitats across North America.
Co-op members interested in planting a pollinator plot of their own can visit any PEC office in March to pick up a free packet of pollinator seed mix. PEC also has tips for planting a pollinator plot online at pec.coop/monarchs.
Cities and entities interested in creating monarch-friendly plots can reach out to PEC experts at communityengagement@peci.com.