Children’s Museum Hosting Great Butterfly Tag-Along Saturday
The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota invites children and their caregivers to take part in The Great Butterfly Tag-Along on Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 11 AM to 4 PM. In keeping with the Museum’s mission to ignite the natural curiosity of every child through the power of play, this event offers a unique opportunity for children and families to engage in nature up-close and experience the awe-inspiring journey of the Monarch butterfly—together.
Held in the Museum’s Pollinators at Play powered by CenterPoint Energy Foundation exhibit, this special event gives guests the rare opportunity to tag and release Monarch butterflies as they begin their epic 3,000-mile journey to the Oyamel Forest of Mexico.
Each participating guest will receive a tagging certificate with a unique code, allowing them to follow their butterfly’s journey via MonarchWatch.org in the months to come, while supplies last.
Additional event highlights include:
- Face painting from 11 AM to 1 PM
- Giveaways
- Environmental education programming
- Pollinator-themed activities
- Taste testing CMSM-grown produce
- Exploration of our CMSM Prairie Gardens
- Exploration of our Pollinators at Play Outdoor Classroom
This event also marks the official closure of the 2025 Butterfly House season, with a farewell to the pollinators we’ll welcome back next summer.
“This is one of the most joyful and meaningful experiences we offer each year,” said Kim Kleven, Vice President of Play and Learning at the Children’s Museum. “Children learn that they can be part of something bigger—a global migration—and that their small action can have real scientific impact. It’s nature, science, and wonder all wrapped into one powerful moment of play.”
Admission: Included with regular Museum admission or membership.
“The Pollinators at Play Exhibit is designed to foster a deeper understanding of nature and our role in making a more vibrant tomorrow,” said June Deadrick, Vice President, Community Relations at CenterPoint Energy. “We’re proud to support exhibits like Pollinators at Play, powered by CenterPoint Energy Foundation, and events like The Great Butterfly Tag-Along that inspire environmental stewardship and community connection.”
