Reader Submitted Article/About the Author
This article was submitted by Amanda Tyler McGuire, a Hickory resident with a passion for supporting local businesses and sharing family-friendly activities. When she’s not busy dancing or planning her next adventure, you can find her volunteering at the Catawba Science Center or at her children’s schools.
People young and old love seeing and interacting with butterflies. They are so beautiful and delicate. It is not often you have a unique opportunity to touch them in a natural habitat. The Catawba Science Center is offering that experience this summer. Their Flutterby Butterfly Habitat is open through September 7th and is included in your general admission. This year the butterfly oasis is accessible for all, regardless of mobility challenges.
The exhibit features many different species of butterflies such as the Monarchs, Swallowtails, Fritillaries, Zebra Long Wing, White Peacocks, and Queen Butterflies. You begin by walking through a double door to reduce the risk of any butterflies escaping. You can then have your finger sprayed to entice them to land on you, while you are given the instructions for safe interaction with them. The outdoor enclosure is filled with plants that promote their growth, development, and egg laying. Additional food is put out in numerous places, so they have ample food supply. Those items include lots of fruit.
As you walk though the exhibit, butterflies will often land on you. You can also put your finger out to one that is on a plant and hope it hops onto it. My three children have had a lot of butterflies land on them over the years. Some have even stayed on them as they walked throughout the exhibit. At the end of the walk is a chrysalis nursery. It is where the butterflies hatch out of their chrysalis. You can see the differences in size and color of different butterfly types and their chrysalis. If you have the right timing, you can even see one emerging and take it’s first flight.
Why is such an experience important for children? It teaches them about the important life cycle of the butterfly. There is a chart and an employee ready to engage you and your children on the life cycle experience. It also helps teach children about the delicate insect and it’s importance in our ecosystem. You can rarely hold or touch butterflies in nature. They often fly away as soon as you approach. In this controlled environment, adults and children get to experience the wonder of butterflies.
The Catawba Science Center offers this unique exhibit once every 3 years. My children have grown up visiting multiple times every year when it’s offered.
Plan a trip to see the butterflies while they are here. It is an exhibit that brings joy to children and adults.
Information on The Catawba Science Center, this exhibit and more can be found on their website at catawbascience.org.