Priya Caldwell recently got some firsthand experience with butterflies thanks to the International Paper's school butterfly kit program (Photo supplied by International Paper)

By Shaun Penner

School Butterfly Kits

International Paper donates butterfly kits to Grande Prairie region students

Jun 11, 2021 | 1:58 PM

International Paper (IP) recently gave students in the Grande Prairie area the opportunity to get some hands-on learning experience with butterflies.

The International Paper Grande Prairie mill, through the International Paper Foundation, provided nearly 1,600 elementary school students at 40 different schools across the region with butterfly kits.

IP says the schools received the kits on May 17 for the students to take home with them, where they got the chance to witness caterpillars go through metamorphosis over a two-to-three-week period, where they then became Painted Lady butterflies.

Once the butterflies emerged from their cocoons, students were asked to feed them for about a week before releasing them out into the world.

IP says Painted Lady butterflies are native to Canada and will flourish in the wild.

“Our goal is to be a force for good in our communities,” said Grande Prairie Mill Manager, Tom Macher. “We are committed to strengthening our people, are dedicated to the communities where we live and work and aim to be responsible stewards of our planet.

“We are excited to offer this learning experience to the students in our area and we hope it inspires a curiosity to learn more and respect for our planet.”

Students in Grande Prairie, Beaverlodge, Bezanson, Clairmont, Crooked Creek, Fairview, Hythe, La Glace, Sexsmith, Spirit River and Wembley were given the kits.

IP says it offers school butterfly kit program in communities in which it operates in across North America to give student a chance to gain an appreciation for being a steward of the environment.