Mexico | Mystical Migration of the Monarch with Mike Dick

About this trip

One of the most amazing phenomena in nature is the annual migration of Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) southward from their breeding grounds in the United States and Canada to overwintering sites high in the mountains of southern Mexico. Hundreds of millions of Monarchs fly along the Gulf Coast, or across the Gulf of Mexico, to eventually reach the belt of high volcanic mountains which stretches across the southern end of the central Mexican plateau. At about a dozen isolated places within the high-altitude forests of this zone, Monarchs pass the winter in aggregations that can exceed 2 billion individual butterflies. Join Mike Dick to stand amid the fir-covered mountains and witness this awe-inspiring spectacle firsthand as the monarchs flutter, dip, and swoop overhead.

Highlights

• Hike or ride horseback at Sierra Chincua and El Rosario Reserves in Michoacán, where millions of individual monarch butterflies gather.
• Photograph the dramatic colors of the butterflies as they hang in clusters from the trees, drink from streams, feed on wildflowers, and soar in the air above.
• Spend time exploring colonial Angangueo, which was once a mining town but now derives most of its livelihood from butterfly ecotourism and agriculture. 
• Take a walking tour of Mexico City's historical city center, including the Zócalo, Metropolitan Cathedral, and Templo Mayor.

Meet your leader

Mike Dick

Mr. Michael J. Dick received both his Bachelor’s and Masters degrees in education from Bowling Green State University.  He taught science for 34 years at Gateway Middle School in Maumee.  He also coached the 7th and 8th grade cross country team, as well as the track and field team, and was the science department chair for nearly 20 years.  On the weekends, he works at the Toledo Zoo as an overnight guide, and does volunteer work for the Toledo Metroparks.  He was named a Jennings Scholar through the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, and received their 2020 Fund For Teachers Fellowship, which sent him to Costa Rica to learn about their biodiversity and conservation efforts.  He has won several awards, including the Golden Apple from the Maumee Chamber of Commerce, the SAVE Alliance Eco-educator of the year, and the Lucas County Soil and Water Outstanding Conservation Educator of the year, as well as the Ohio Soil and Water Educator of the Year.

A few years ago, Mike’s 7th grade students became involved with a conservation effort to help save the monarch butterfly.  After reading about the plight of the butterfly, the students tagged and released 30 monarchs with the aid of the Toledo Zoo.  However, the students quickly realized that the newly tagged butterflies had nothing to eat around the Gateway campus.  With the help of the Maumee Garden Club, the Lucas County Soil & Water Conservation District, and the teachers of Team Zenith, the students engaged in a problem-based learning project that culminated in collaborating with the Toledo Zoo to install a 10,000 sq ft urban prairie on school grounds. He recently journeyed to the mountains of Mexico to see the wintering grounds of the Monarchs, thanks to Holbrook Travel.

Mike and his wife, Mary, live in Monclova, Ohio, and have embarked on a quest to run a 5k in every state.  They have two adult children: Nathan, who is an 8th grade science teacher in Mayfield, and Katie, who is a business systems analyst in New Jersey.

Activity Level 4: Moderate-Strenuous

This journey is for fit and active nature enthusiasts. Daily activities last for 5 or more hours. There are challenging excursions to butterfly colonies that may require walking for approximately 2 miles at altitudes of up to 10,660 feet on some trails that are narrow and rugged. These may involve both steep uphill and downhill hikes of 30 minutes or more (hiking at your own pace), and require horseback riding for part of the way; please note there is a maximum weight limit of approximately 260 lbs to ride the horses. Restrooms are only available at the base of the mountain. Weather in the Central Highlands during the migration is typically cool and dry with average temperatures in the 50s. Though days are typically sunny, there can be some windy conditions, and nights occasionally drop below 30°F. Also included are walking tours in provincial towns and in Mexico City.

Additional Notes

During site visits, the days entail walking around the butterfly sites on your own and photographing and watching butterflies. Please be prepared to be independent during butterfly watching.

Please also see the information about Safety & Risk Management under the Travel Info tab.