Did you know that milkweed plants are the only food that monarch caterpillars eat? ONLY Milkweed plants!

The Milkweed Planting Kit includes: 

• Small container with vermiculite
• Small package of five milkweed seeds
• 2 peat pots
• 2 peat pellets
• Direction cards, and a brochure.

Target audience is youth grades 3 through 8. However, high schools students and adults alike will be surprised to learn that milkweed seeds need a 30 day cold, moist period before they germinate! A fun learning experience for all ages.

The theme of our project is: Plant a milkweed, grow a butterfly! These kits are provided to you at no cost courtesy of a partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Iowa DNR REAP Conservation Education Program (CEP) Grant, and the Iowa State University Seed Science Center. Simply pay a nominal postage fee during checkout.

If you have questions, please email:

• Lynne Campbell, ISU Extension and Outreach STEM Education Program Specialist, at lynnec@iastate.edu or
• Cindy Hicks, Seed Science Center Communication Specialist at: cghicks@iastate.edu
  

Lynne Campbell is a program coordinator for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach who serves as a STEM education liaison across campus. She is the lead for several grants including Iowa DNR REAP Monarch Conservation Grants and the National 4-H Council’s Ag Innovator Experiences that include Monarchs on the Move Challenge, Native Bee Challenge and Water Connects Us All Challenge. Lynne is a former secondary science teacher and through a grant with Prairie Lakes AEA supports K-12 professional learning for science educators.

The Seed Science Center at Iowa State University is a center of excellence nationally and internationally in seed research, education, technology transfer and international seed programs. Cindy is also a master gardener. Her family has been instrumental in packaging the Milkweed Growing Kits.

An Iowa DNR REAP Conservation Education Program (CEP) Grant assisted in the funding for this project. Approximately $350,000 in grants for conservation education in Iowa are distributed annually by this program.