Custom Programs

Previous Custom Youth Outreach Programs

• True Invertebrate Tales, for ages 14 and older: Through the storytelling of real-life encounters with mysterious invertebrates, audiences can come to appreciate just how incredible and valuable these animals truly are. 
• Critter Classification, for ages 9th-12th: Students will develop skills in observation, classification, and hypothesis formation, laying a strong foundation for future studies in biology and ecology. By the end of the program, participants will have a deep appreciation for the diversity and complexity of the invertebrate world, inspiring them to continue exploring and learning about the natural world around them.
• Habitat Explorers, 1st-3rd: Take a closer look at invertebrates and their habitats to uncover the crucial roles these amazing creatures play in ecosystems around the world and in your own backyard! Join us on an exciting journey to explore various habitats and the fascinating invertebrates that inhabit them.
• Paleo Journey, for ages 14 and older: To fully understand the immense importance of invertebrate animals, audiences are invited to embark on a captivating journey back in time to the dawn of the animal kingdom. This unique program will allow participants to explore the evolutionary history of invertebrates, comparing the bugs of today to their ancient counterparts.
• To book a custom program contact us at education@butterflies.org or request a program here today!

Previous Custom Field Trip Programs

• Charisma and Conservation, 3rd grade and up: Why do we love pandas but squirm at the sign of a spider? In this interactive class, students will explore how an animal’s appearance affects its chances of survival – not just in the wild, but in the world of conservation. Together, we’ll uncover why some animals get more attention (and funding) than others and brainstorm creative ways to make the “unlovable” lovable?
• Magnificent Mimics, K-5th grade: Explore the magical world of mimicry with mantises that look like flowers, caterpillars that look like snakes, and more! Learn about the unique ways invertebrates use mimicry to survive and thrive and how we think this ability evolved.
• Invertebrate Romance, 3rd grade and up: Romance isn’t just for vertebrates! Dive into the fascinating and unique world of invertebrate courtship and learn how insects, arachnids, and more find and impress their mates. Students will learn why invertebrates engage in these elaborate mating rituals and how these rituals influence animal appearance and behavior. 
• Aquatic Invertebrates, 1st-5th grade: Grab your fins and scuba gear, we’re going underwater! Not all invertebrates are insects. In fact, they all evolved from animals in the ocean. Join us as we explore which invertebrates have lived in the sea for millions of years, and how they’ve all adapted to ocean life differently.
• To book a custom program contact us at education@butterflies.org or request a program here today!

Previous Custom Adult Outreach Programs

• Amazing Arachnids: Demystify the world of arachnids! This program delves into the anatomy, environmental importance, and conservation of spiders and scorpions. Learn why these feared and misunderstood arthropods are vital to our agriculture and ecosystem, and come face to face with Colorado’s coolest native arachnids! 
• Bug Noises: You can probably recognize the sound of a cricket, cicada, or bumblebee, but did you know that strange noises come from every corner of the invertebrate world? Butterfly Pavilion brings to you a veritable orchestra of invertebrate music (and some of the human music they’ve inspired) to show off the unusual adaptations, body parts, and lifestyles that these bugs bring to bear! We’ll cover everything you’d want to know about arthropods, with a fun interactive audio component and an encounter with live hissing cockroaches! 
• Invertebrate Necromancy with Professor Bile: Years of horror films and monster movies have drawn inspiration from the mind-controlling parasites of the invertebrate world. Now, Butterfly Pavilion offers you a glimpse into the misunderstood lives of these parasitic puppeteers. Our on-staff alchemist will guide you through nature’s myriad methods of mental mastery while they attempt to brew their own potion of mind control. The program also discusses why such grotesque survival strategies develop, while examining our society’s negative views about parasitic organisms.  
• True Invertebrate Tales, for ages 14 and older: Through the storytelling of real-life encounters with mysterious invertebrates, audiences can come to appreciate just how incredible and valuable these animals truly are.
• To book a custom program contact us at education@butterflies.org or request a program here today!