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30 The College of New Jersey Magazine Campbell-Rush and other monarch enthusiasts consider the resting period, often referred to as "overwintering," as the most remarkable stage of the migration. No one knows for sure why or how the monarchs are programmed to come to this particular area, though the temperatures and the natural ecosystem provide perfect conditions for millions of monarchs to congregate in the forest's oyamel fir trees. Thousands may roost on just a single tree branch. "They cover the entire forest," says Campbell-Rush. "You can't see the forest for the butterflies. It's something I have wanted to experience since I first learned about it." "THEY LAND ON YOU. BUT YOU CAN'T TOUCH THEM. You have to just stay still until they're ready to leave you." — Peggy Campbell-Rush Not many people have had the chance to see the spectacle. But thanks to Wish of a Lifetime, an AARP program that helps to keep senior citizens connected to their passions, Campbell-Rush is one of them. "I was reading AARP's magazine," she says. "And I saw that they had this Wish of a Lifetime for older people." Inspired by stories of seniors who followed passions to places like Gettysburg and Ellis Island, she decided to apply. Campbell-Rush wanted the chance to witness the monarch overwintering to help her convince others of the need to protect these beautiful creatures. A career educator, Campbell-Rush has taught in New Jersey and Florida and was twice named a New Jersey Teacher of the Year finalist; she's also a two-time Fulbright Education Fellow. She's wowed her elementary students with hands-on learning experiences. A favorite lesson was to teach the life cycle of butterflies. She'd bring chrysalises to the classroom so students could watch caterpillars turn to butterflies. It was a lesson in conservation, too. Monarchs are a threatened species due to a number of factors, including deforestation in Mexico and the overuse of pesticides in the U.S. that kill the milkweed, a crucial food source and a breeding ground for the monarchs. She encourages students and neighbors alike to plant milkweed; her own garden, filled with milkweed, is registered as a Monarch Waystation for the migration. Her wish was granted. In February 2025, she set out on an expedition to see the monarch migration through the World Wildlife Foundation and National Habitat Adventures. "The goal of the trip was to learn more about the monarchs and come back and educate others," she says. Campbell-Rush's trek to the Michoacán mountains was as arduous as that of the butterflies she was about to study. First there was a spirited send-off from preschoolers donned in butterfly wings at the Riverside Presbyterian Day School in Jacksonville, Florida, where Campbell-Rush serves as the Early Learning Center coordinator. Then it was a series of planes, buses, and pick-up trucks to get from Mexico City and ultimately to the foot of the El Rosario Sanctuary, a protected area where the monarchs spend winters. "We rode horses straight up the mountains to about 11,000 feet," says Campbell-Rush. A final 30-minute hike got her to a clearing in the sanctuary, revealing millions of butterflies. "It was this eureka moment. It was like I walked to the edge of a miracle," she says. "I just knelt down because it was so amazing." She spent the next three days immersed, quite literally, in monarchs. "They land on you," she says. "But you can't

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