Volunteer

Volunteers from Alliant Energy and an MRP intern prepare to feed milkweed leaves to monarch caterpillars, May 2018.

Become a Fan and Sign Up to Volunteer

We also send call-outs for volunteers through Volunteer Now, a service maintained by United Way of East Central Iowa. Register on the site and “become a fan” of the MRP page and you’ll receive an email every time new MRP volunteer opportunities are posted.

Learn more about volunteering: Go to Contact Us and send us a message.

About volunteering with the Monarch Research Project

We need you! The MRP is primarily a volunteer-based operation and we rely heavily on our volunteers for everything from planning to planting, plotting to harvest.

We put out calls for seasonal, specific help (like a milkweed seed harvest day) and we also need ongoing daily help during the planting and monarch rearing seasons. Complete our volunteer sign up form to get on our volunteer call-list.

Who volunteers?

  • Scout troops
  • Garden clubs
  • Corporate groups
  • Individuals who love nature and desire to make a difference in restoring pollinator habitats and monarch population

What volunteers do

  • Planting
  • Weeding
  • Milkweed harvest
  • Seed sorting
  • Counting cat eggs
  • Cleaning rearing enclosures
  • General office work
  • Releasing butterflies
  • Organizing & powering events Seed give-away
  • MZ plug pick up
  • MZ eggs pick up
  • Check in table or other help at events