Why Care About Swallowtail Butterflies?

By Perry Thomas

It’s Pollinator Week, y’all!

Pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor), as viewed in the author’s garden, August 13, 2025.

Sometimes I get so focused on my to-do list that I forget to pause and appreciate the beauty of

Kentucky’s natural world. Last summer, a swallowtail butterfly visible from the window of my home office reminded me to step outside and notice the many species that share this journey through life with my family and me.

Appropriately, the swallowtail butterfly has been named the 2026 Pollinator of the Year.

The team at Pollinator Partnership reminds us that swallowtails are not only beautiful, but also important members of healthy ecosystems. Their caterpillars are a valuable food source for birds and other wildlife, helping transfer energy through the food web. As adults, swallowtails feed on nectar and help pollinate flowering plants.

Environmental education programs can help learners understand these important ecological connections. Project WILD, one of KAEE’s award-winning wildlife education curricula, includes activities that bring the value and wonder of pollinators to life.

One favorite activity is The Web of Life, in which participants create a literal web using yarn to connect different plants and animals. As the web changes, learners discover how the loss of any species can affect the health and resilience of the entire ecosystem. A free family version of this learning experience may be downloaded from the Project WILD website.

The iNaturalist community helped me identify the beautiful blue butterfly I spotted from my office window as a pipevine swallowtail. Just as monarch butterflies depend on milkweed to support their caterpillars, pipevine swallowtails depend on pipevine plants as host plants for their larvae.

How Can You Help Swallowtails and Other Pollinators?

• Learn which host plants pollinators need in your area and add them to your landscape. Visit Pollinator Partnership's plant guides for region-specific recommendations.

• Leave some leaf litter and allow plants to overwinter undisturbed, providing shelter for pollinators and other beneficial insects.

• Reduce or eliminate pesticide use whenever possible.

• Spend a few minutes observing the pollinators in your own yard, schoolyard, park, or neighborhood. You may be surprised by the diversity you discover.

• Become a Project WILD leader by participating in one of KAEE’s educator workshops (for details, contact perry@kaee.org).

  
  

This Pollinator Week, take a moment to step outside, look closely, and appreciate the butterflies, bees, moths, beetles, and other pollinators that help keep Kentucky's ecosystems thriving.

KAEE’s Inaugural Early Learning Symposium Brings Nature-Based Educators Together at Bernheim

On May 1, educators from across Kentucky gathered at Bernheim Forest & Arboretum for KAEE’s inaugural Early Learning Symposium, a new professional learning event designed specifically for early childhood educators interested in nature-based learning and environmental education.

More than 80 educators representing daycares, forest schools, public school systems, agencies, and nonprofit organizations came together to explore how outdoor environments can support young learners’ growth, curiosity, and development. Throughout the day, participants connected with peers, shared experiences, and gained practical strategies for bringing more nature-based learning into their programs.

The Early Learning Symposium grew out of conversations with educators across Kentucky who

were seeking professional learning opportunities focused specifically on early childhood education. During KAEE’s strategic planning process, early childhood partners expressed interest in an event that would address the unique approaches, challenges, and opportunities involved in teaching young learners through nature-based and outdoor education.

The symposium offered a full day of learning and collaboration centered on helping educators confidently and effectively use outdoor spaces as learning environments. The day opened with a keynote presentation by Victoria Carr, Beyond Nature Play: Cultivating Curiosity, Care, and Action in Young Children. Additional sessions explored topics including neurodivergence, accessibility, and inclusivity in outdoor settings; healthy risk-taking and behavior management; forest school models; outdoor learning environments; and strategies for incorporating more nature play regardless of physical, logistical, or programmatic limitations.

One of the greatest strengths of the symposium was the opportunity for educators from a variety of backgrounds and settings to learn from one another. Participants working in childcare centers, schools, nature centers, nonprofits, and forest schools shared ideas, challenges, and successes while building new connections with colleagues from across the Commonwealth.

"It was truly magical to see so many new faces in the room—individuals we've never connected with before—becoming part of a growing network and movement for nature-based learning in Kentucky. There is so much momentum behind this work right now, and we are excited to take the inspiration from this event and see how it continues to grow," reflected Ashley Hoffman, KAEE Executive Director, on the success of the symposium.

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The enthusiasm and collaboration throughout the day demonstrated the growing interest in nature-based learning across Kentucky and the important role early childhood educators play in helping young learners develop meaningful relationships with the natural world.

KAEE extends its sincere thanks to the presenters, partners, and participants who helped make the inaugural Early Learning Symposium a success. We look forward to continuing these conversations and supporting Kentucky's growing community of educators committed to connecting young children with nature.