Vision

Mission:
The Monarch Butterfly Eclipse Project is merging celestial magic with environmental conservation — funding essential research and habitat preservation initiatives for Monarch Butterfly and other pollinators.

The Monarch Butterfly Eclipse Project (TMBEP) is an inspiring student-led initiative based in Oakville, Ontario. In anticipation of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, TMBEP spearheaded a campaign to sell ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses across Canada and the USA.

Total solar eclipses are very rare and happen in a community on average only every 400 years. An additional fact that made the April 8th, 2024 total solar eclipse truly unique is that its path closely mirrored the major migration route of the endangered Monarch Butterfly.

TMBEP has committed to donate the net proceeds of TMBEP, over the next number of years, to organizations there by building local, national and international partnerships of with government agencies, nonprofits, community groups, businesses, and academic programs working to conserve monarch butterflies and other pollinators.

Action

Founded by Emilie, Maggie, Ellen, Taylor, and Paige, TMBEP is dedicated to raising awareness about Monarch Butterfly conservation while offering a safe and memorable way for people to experience the eclipse. The project’s mission is to support the protection of Monarch Butterfly habitats and enhance their population health. To this end, TMBEP will use the net proceeds from the sale of eclipse glasses to fund a range of initiatives, including research, conservation efforts, and educational programs focused on these iconic and endangered insects.
Over a period of a year May 2023 to 2024 every one of the co-founders participated daily promoting, organizing, communicating, brainstorming and packaging for TMBEP. The co-founders worked with retailers, online platforms, school boards, municipalities to achieve their success. TMBEP was featured in over 30 news articles across Halton, Ontario, Canada and USA.
The idea of linking a once in a life time celestial event that involves the most powerful body in our solar system, the sun, to the yearly “miracle” of a migration route of the endangered, fragile monarch butterfly was very creative.
The net funds raised by the sale of the ISO certified solar glasses is being donated to local, regional, national and international groups and organizations to support education and actual pollinator habitat. This year alone TMBEP has earmarked over a total of $75,000 to the following organizations: Canadian Wildlife Foundation (CDN), Monarch Joint Venture (USA), OakvilleGreen, BurlingtonGreen, The Art House, Rotary Club of Oakville West, Oakwood Public School HDSB, University of Western (CDN), University of Madison (USA) and University of Georgia (USA). The sale of the glasses is complete but TMBEP has a mandate to work organization for at least the next 10 years.
Leveraging partnerships with retailers such as Canadian Tire and Home Hardware, a Shopify-powered e-commerce platform, and strong community connections, TMBEP achieved remarkable success, selling 400,000 pairs of eclipse glasses. TMBEP worked with many community organizations and school boards in Quebec and USA also some municipalities directly supported the project.
TMBEP identified a need at a consumer level need and connected it with an environmental need. Allowing people to safely experience the total solar eclipse while raising funds for pollinator habitat. The co-founders have been invited to speak at and attend the 2025 North American Monarch Summit in Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Working with local, national and international environmental organizations to educate, promote and support the habitat of pollinators address many different UNSustainable Goals. Life on Land – reduction of pesticides / Food Supply – supporting pollination / Clean Water – saving pollinator habitat / Economic Growth – pollination of crops / Sustainable Communities – working with Local environmental organizations to develop green spaces.
The co-founders have been invited to speak at and attend the 2025 North American Monarch Summit in Minneapolis, MN, USA.
TMBEP is excited about its next phase of the project working with individuals, communities and organizations to help impact life on land by developing and protecting natural habitat, hunger by protecting pollinators, supporting sustainable communities’ by supporting green space and nature corridors and general climate action by protecting natural habitat.

Reflection & Celebration

Working together with friends on project that caputured so much attention and provided a needed safe solution to people from Newfoundland to Texas was versy exciting. Having to do presentations, media interviews and meet community leaders was a great learning experience. Also, working with graphic and web designers, manufactures and shipping companies to create the project and glasses was new for all of us. Moving forward working with our partners and helping them to achieve their missions and environmental goals just feels good.

Maggie
Maggie is a grade 12 student at Oakville Trafalgar High School and one of the co-founders of the Monarch Butterfly Eclipse Project. She enjoys playing volleyball and working with kids. Starting this project has been an amazing journey for her. Maggie has gained knowledge about the Monarch butterfly and the Eclipse, improved her communication skills, and learned how a business operates. She hopes to attend a business program in post-secondary education, and this project has played a significant role in supporting her educational goals.

Paige
Paige is one of the co-founders of the Monarch Butterfly Eclipse Project. She is a high school student in Oakville, Ontario, known for her energy and enthusiasm. Paige is a hard-working honor roll student and a standout athlete who excels in multiple sports, including volleyball, track and field and field hockey. She is also enjoying her new role as a youth assistant coach for the Special Olympics Track and Field Team in Oakville—Go Lightning! Cofounding this project has helped Paige to cultivate knowledge that not only has enhanced her personal growth but has created an excitement about being an advocate for positive change in the community and a commitment to the environment.

Ellen
Ellen is one of the five founders of the Monarch Butterfly Eclipse Projects. She lives in Oakville, ON, and is in grade 12. This project has been a great experience for her, especially with the support of her friends and family. Ellen has learned a lot throughout the project, and it has helped her become more confident in public speaking through practice. She hopes to become a teacher in the future. As part of the project, Ellen and her team visited schools to share their progress and what they had learned. She loved teaching and talking to students about her interests, helping them learn about butterflies and the Eclipse.

Emilie
Emilie is one of the five girls behind the Monarch Butterfly Eclipse Project. She lives in Oakville and is currently a senior at a full French school. Next year, she is interested in pursuing an engineering program, most likely in chemical or environmental engineering. Emilie enjoys traveling, especially to visit her family in Wales and France. Her extracurricular activities include playing competitive field hockey and pickleball with friends. One of her passions is environmental protection and helping endangered species, such as the monarch butterflies. She looks forward to continuing to support the monarch butterflies through the ongoing efforts of this project.

Taylor
Taylor’s passion about the outdoors started long before she helped co-found the Monarch Butterfly Eclipse Project. She grew up spending her summers in Muskoka Ontario hiking, boating and cherishing time with friends. Taylor attended school in the Halton District School Board through Grade 11 and is now studying in Switzerland where she will graduate from Neuchâtel Junior College. Moving to Europe is a testimony to Taylor’s adventurous and courageous spirit. Taylor also has a strong athletic history, enjoying ice hockey, volleyball and field hockey. Cofounding this project has provided insights that have shaped Taylor’s future interest in attending a science-based University program. Taylor has developed leadership, project management, and strong communication skills through this project. Taylor is eager to continue to make a positive impact.

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