Bristol graduate spreads the word on monarch butterflies

BRISTOL -- When she was in Girl Scouts, Rayna Lambert of Bristol began her interest with the monarch butterfly and protecting it with a focus on making sure there was milkweed for them in Trumbull County.

Today, Lambert, a Bristol High School graduate and a Hiram College junior where she is majoring in biology and minoring in writing, does talks and presentations for adults and children about the monarch butterfly. Lambert hosted two programs recently at Bristol Library with one for adults and the other for children.

She received her Girl Scout Gold Award for being the author and illustrator of a book titled "Mission: Monarch." Lambert completed the project last summer and then received her Gold Award earlier this year.

The Gold Award is one of the most prestigious awards a Girl Scout can earn.

"Last year as part of my Gold Award for writing the book, it was recommended that I have educational programs to go along with the book. I partnered with James H. Barrow field station in Hiram. I did a program there and then reached out to the Bristol Library about doing a children's program at the library since I know some younger children in Bristol who would come to the library and enjoy seeing caterpillars and butterflies,'' Lambert said.

She said she reached out to D'Lynn Johnson , the library director, about what to do. Lambert said it was decided to read her book and then have the children take part in a related craft activity while also looking at caterpillar species she would bring.

"I wrote the book and then did the illustrations using an app. The book tells about the life cycle of the monarch butterfly and their migration. The book also tells of the need for pollinators like butterflies and what children and adults can do to help,'' Lambert said.

She also included a glossary of terms in the back of the book.

"The book allows children and their parents to learn about monarchs together," Lambert said.

Wendy Lambert said she is proud of her daughter and what she has accomplished.

"She has always been very passionate about the monarch butterflies. And has used them for speeches and programs to educate others. She took the butterflies to the state fair. I am very proud of her and hope she continues to follow her passion," she said.

Wendy said when Rayna was 12, she went to the Trumbull County commissioners meeting to discuss the need to have milkweed for the butterfly.

"The monarch butterflies have always been her passion and she wants to make sure they are saved," 'Wendy said.

Rayna said she also provided her expertise at the recent Trumbull County 4-H STEM program at the Trumbull Agricultural Center Ohio State University Extension Office in Cortland. She brought the caterpillars for the children to see.

"I actually had a butterfly hatch while I was there. They got to see a butterfly. It is a blessing for me to be able to share what I know with younger students. It is important for me to share what I know with younger generations because otherwise who will teach them this," Lambert said.

She said she received her first monarch chrysalis from Cortland resident Mary Bumstead, a retired Lakeview first-grade teacher Bumstead had just retired from teaching and had items at her home outside for a garage sale and Lambert was there with her mother.

"I had an aquarium set up with the last monarch butterfly chrysalis inside. It. There were many items there that day. I wanted to see who could use them. Rayna was so young then and interested in monarch butterflies. I let her take the aquarium and chrysalis home so she could let the butterfly go from her home. That is the start of her journey with butterflies,'' Bumstead said.

Bumstead said years later, she began seeing news articles about Lambert and the butterflies and wanted to contact her.

Lambert said she appreciated what Bumstead did for her and dedicated her book to her.

She said while she never was Lambert's teacher, she was glad she met her at her home that day.

"It was strictly by chance that we met," Bumstead said.