Another vote for butterfly houses

[Michael Gochfeld]

I have had many opportunities through the years (beginning as a teen-age 
nature counselor) to interact with children and nature (plants, 
butterflies, birds, dinosaurs and even ecosystems).

I can't recall any interaction as spell-binding for children as watching 
butterflies emerge.  Children who can't sit still can somehow stand 
still for a half hour or more, watching the emergences that are 
centerpieces of some of the live butterfly exhibits. And when the 
butterfly finally spreads its wings, it's incredibly gratifying.  

At museums, by contrast, where new exhibits employ interactive 
computer-learning opportunities, kids enjoy the computers (in some cases 
more than the skeletons or reconstructions), and seem to be held more by 
the computer interaction itself ratherthan the information imparted.  
But butterfly emergence is obviously magical and riveting for children 
(and grownups), even if they never read the accompanying information 
placards which explain metamorphosis. 

The occasional confusion an escaping butterfly might cause us in 
faunistics, seems pale by comparison. 

Mike Gochfeld

 
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