Summertime has arrived!  STEP is here to help you enjoy the simple pleasures of the season. You can get a close-up view of one of life’s most amazing mysteries by watching a caterpillar morph into a chrysalis and then become a butterfly. Make a butterfly house out of a half gallon orange juice carton. It’s easy and fun.

• First wash container very well and leave off cap.
• Cut a 3 inch hole in each of the four sides.
• Cover the top and side holes with mesh and tape into place.
• Now put some fresh parsley, dill, or milkweed inside the carton.
• Place a cotton ball dipped in sugar water also inside.
• Now go search plants and bushes for a caterpillar and give it fresh leaves and water everyday.
• When you find your caterpillar give it some of the same kind of leaves that you find it on.
• Many butterflies are endangered. Share your winged treasure with family and friends then set it free when it has morphed.

STEP will be sharing how to make your own butterfly garden in upcoming articles this summer. In the meantime enjoy being a responsible and caring steward of our planet by protecting butterfly habitats in your neighborhood.

“THE WING THING”

BUTTERFLY ART CONTEST

STEP is a not for profit organization, calling artists to participate in “The Wing Thing”, to benefit STEP programs and The Chrysalis Conservation Courtyard. The Chrysalis Conservation Courtyard, to be located on the campus of Hilton Head Island High School, will include: story-time benches, an outdoor classroom, a secret garden of discovery, and trellises full of host plants for butterflies - all designed for promoting the importance of conservation in our community.

The Chrysalis Conservation Courtyard will encourage caring young people to inspire younger students with positive life skills, while creating a successful life for themselves as they learn to protect the planet.

ART COLLECTOR OPPORTUNITY!

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March 3, 2007 - HHH group receives environment award - A Hilton Head High School student-mentor program has received a state Champion of the Environment award and $500 for transforming a neglected courtyard into an outdoor natural learning area. (read full article)

March 2, 2007 -HHHS project wins state award - “STEP students work with mentors from the Coastal Carolina Discovery Museum to choose native plants to provide habitat for wildlife including native butterflies whose host plants are in short supply in the Hilton Head area.” (read full story)

March 2, 2007 - Champions of the Environment - “The ‘Conservation Courtyard’ will also be a place for learning. STEP students will write lessons and teach younger students about native species and the environment. And, the community will be able to enjoy the courtyard too.” (read full article)

Fabien Cousteau, grandson of the famous Jacques Cousteau, visited Hilton Head on February 13, to talk with some of the high school student members of STEP about the environment; and furthermore, to educate them about preservation of the ocean and its inhabitants, as well as wildlife protection. The students were able to ask Fabien, who uses filmmaking to make the public aware of important environmental issues, many questions about the environment, and also had the opportunity to hear first hand about some of his most adventurous projects, such as his current exploration of the Amazon and his recent production, “Shark: Mind of a Demon with Fabien Cousteau,” in which Fabien swims with great white sharks as a great white himself!