Butterfly Show

The Department of Biology invites you to share in the magic of butterflies this October. Carleton’s 2024 Annual Biology Butterfly Show is in-person and welcomes you to the Nesbitt Greenhouses.

The Butterfly Show is an annual event open to the public that runs daily for one week in October. Visitors can reserve a ticket for a 20-minute timeslot to see the butterflies in the Nesbitt Biology Greenhouses. Information on the schedule and obtaining a ticket can be found on the Annual Biology Butterfly Show website. Details including the public schedule will be released closer to the event start-date.

The show is meant to be both an educational and fun visit. Visitors will be greeted by student volunteers studying science at Carleton University. The students can share knowledge about the featured butterfly species and butterfly fun-facts.

The Department of Biology partners with Let’s Talk Science to provide educational presentations to schools and community groups during the show. In 2022, Let’s Talk Science Ottawa hosted over 1,000 school groups both in-person and virtually. Many of the school groups had high indigenous or new Canadian populations, or came from low socio-economic areas of Ottawa. Virtual tours were given to schools in Northern Ontario, who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to participate in the event.

During this year’s show, Let’s Talk Science Ottawa will be connecting with more than 30 classrooms. Educational at-home activities geared toward younger audiences, including ideas for crafts and video tutorials, are available online so families can continue the experience at home.

Follow along with the 2024 Butterfly Show on Instagram at @cuButterflies. Don’t forget to use #CarletonButterfly2024 to interact with us on social media during the show!

The Butterfly Show has been open to the public since its beginnings 25 years ago, although we rely on your generous donations to keep it running year after year. We suggest a cash donation of $5/person at the door if you’re in a position to contribute. Donations can also be made online, using Carleton University’s secure FutureFunder platform.

For more information please contact the Department of Biology or visit their website!

biology@carleton.ca
613-520-2478

The show features over 1,000 butterflies that arrive in at least three separate shipments, representing 41 different species worldwide. The event is appropriate for people of all ages.

During your in-person experience, the butterflies will be flying freely in the greenhouse and may occasionally land on you. Butterflies are fragile, so please do not touch them or pick them up by the wings. Butterflies love to land on colourful clothing and will climb on to an open hand. To encourage landings, we recommend you to wear bright colours. You may also bring juicy orange or pineapple slices to help entice butterflies to you. If one lands on you, they are easily dislodged by blowing gently on their wings.

The show takes place in the Nesbitt Biology Building, located in the south-east corner of Carleton University campus. Carleton University is located between Colonel By Dr. and Bronson Ave., along the Rideau canal. Please be sure to review the show schedule and reserve a ticket before arrival.