Okies for Monarchs is an education and outreach initiative to raise awareness about monarch butterflies and increase monarch habitat in Oklahoma. Launched in 2018 by the Oklahoma Monarch & Pollinator Collaborative (OMPC), the initiative is one of numerous objectives outlined in the Statewide Monarch Action Plan. The OMPC is a program of the Oklahoma Monarch Society, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
OMPC Mission
To educate, engage, and support Oklahomans in the protection and enhancement of suitable habitat and nectar sources for monarchs and pollinators throughout Oklahoma.
OMPC Vision
Oklahomans working together to ensure our landscapes and gardens support thriving Monarch migrations for generations to come.
OMPC Goal
Collaboratively develop and implement a Statewide Monarch Conservation Plan.
Meet the Dedicated Team
The Oklahoma Monarch & Pollinator Collaborative (OMPC) was formed by attendees of the Oklahoma Monarch Summit in November 2016.
- 7 Tribe Initiative
- Ag Innovations
- Blue Doors
- Choctaw Nation
- Cimarron Sierra Club
- Conservation Coalition of OK
- Intertribal Land Trust
- Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture
- Kirkpatrick Foundation
- Landowners
- McClain County Conservation District
- Monarch Watch
- National Wildlife Federation
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
- Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture
- OK Assoc. of Conservation Districts
- OK Conservation Commission
- OK Dept. of Tourism
- OK Dept. of Transportation
- OK Dept. of Wildlife Conservation
- Oklahoma Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program
- OK Invasive Plant Council
- OK Native Plant Society
- OK Natural Heritage Inventory
- OK Prescribed Fire Council
- Oklahoma State 4-H Program
- OK State University
- OKC Urban AG Coalition
- OKC Parks & Recreation
- OK Cattlemen’s Assoc.
- OKC Zoo
- OK Farm Bureau
- Oxley Nature Center
- Peach Creek Ranch
- Pheasants Forever / Quail Forever
- Prairie Wind Nursery
- Sam Noble Foundation
- Shawnee Tribe
- Sierra Club
- The Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma
- Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge
- Tulsa Urban Wilderness Coalition
- Tulsa Zoo
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
- U.S. Golf Association
- Western Farmers Electric Coop
- Wild Things Nursery
- Xerces Society
About the Statewide Monarch Conservation Plan
Via the OMPC Statewide Monarch Conservation Plan, we aim to engage a multitude of Oklahomans and encourage action on various land types in the following ways:
Government
- Maintain and increase diverse nectar plants and milkweed on state and federal conservation lands through management and restoration.
- Engage 25+ municipalities to: identify existing habitat and high priority geographic areas for enhancement and restoration; identify and address policy and cultural barriers; adopt Mayor’s Monarch Pledge.
Businesses & Non-Profits
- Encourage businesses & non-profits to take a pledge, build a garden, register their garden and/or other monarch initiatives.
Education & Youth Groups
- Encourage schools and youth groups to participate in pollinator initiatives by establishing school habitats and incorporating monarch curriculum into the classroom.
Agriculture & Rangeland
- Engage farmers, ranchers, and other ag specialists in cropland and rangeland working groups to identify agricultural land types most compatible with monarch conservation.
- Develop best management toolkits and offer training to interested ag/ranch land managers.
Residents
- Encourage residents to take a pledge, build a garden, register their garden, and visit public gardens and monarch-inspired projects.
- Work with landowners and utility managers to establish monarch-friendly right-of-way land management practices.
Indian Nations
- Partner with native tribes to increase milkweed habitat on the over one million trust and restricted acres of tribal lands in Oklahoma.
To support action across different land types and with various audiences, the plan also includes supporting goals focused on seed production, research, communications and partnerships. Example goals include:
Seed and Plant Production
- Create lists of the plant species needed in each region of the state and distribute to audiences.
- Disseminate plant lists to native seed/plant producers with request to increase locally-sourced milkweed and nectar plant seed production.
Research
- Maintain and update the research needs list in the OMPC Statewide Plan.
- Engage local researchers and national research efforts to ensure the OMPC benefits from and contributes to best available science.
Communications and Outreach
- Develop web site to support the plan goals: include online pledge, action toolkits, calendar, map, registration forms, and social media outreach.
- Identify core target audiences and develop messaging for each.
Partnerships
- Maintain and build list of implementation partners for the plan.
- Host annual summit to bring partners together to celebrate successes & plan actions upcoming year.
Ready to Get Your Hands Dirty?
Now it's time to pick out which colorful plants and flowers to add to your garden... Let the fun begin!
Native Wildflower Seed Mixes
Order western and eastern Oklahoma "Wildflowers for Monarchs" seed mixes from Johnston Seed Company in Enid. They will donate a portion of the proceeds to Okies for Monarchs to help fund our mission to save the monarchs!
Monarch License Plate
Join the growing number of Oklahomans who are supporting pollinators by sporting this stylish monarch license plate! $20 from each plate will be donated to support our mission to save the monarchs!