Photo source Vanessa Bates, a second grader at Damascus School, smiles as her painted lady butterfly is preparing to fly away to freedom. (Click for larger image)

Second graders visit The Butterfly Barn

DAMASCUS — Cathy Phillips and Tammy Ace, second grade teachers at Damascus School, received about 50 larvae of the species painted lady butterfly. Their second graders carefully followed the directions that came with them. Day by day they watched as their larvae became caterpillars, made a chrysalis and turned into beautiful orange and black butterflies.

They then made a trip to The Butterfly Barn, owned by Ed Wesely, only a few short miles from the school. It was here that they released their butterflies into the air as their teacher read a poem, “Hurt No Living Thing.”

The Butterfly Barn offers many programs throughout the year for anyone interested in local wildlife. For more information call 570/729-7053.