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Destination: 'Flight of the Butterflies 3D'

"Flight of the Butterflies 3D," now showing at the IMAX theater at Marbles Kids Museum, is as much science lesson as it is a mystery.

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Flight of the Butterflies: An IMAX 3D Experience
By
Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

"Flight of the Butterflies 3D" is as much science lesson as it is a mystery.

The 40-minute documentary, now showing at the IMAX theater at Marbles Kids Museum, follows the story of Dr. Fred Urquhart, a Canadian scientist, as he unravels the mystery of where millions of Monarchs butterflies go for the winter.

Urquhart's interest, the movie shows us, begins as a child and continued throughout his life. You see scenes of him chasing butterflies in his youth, trying to tag them as a young researcher and then, with his wife, leading an effort across North America to track the insects.

It also follows "Dana," a Monarch, along with her daughter, granddaughter and great granddaughter and the "Super Generation" that makes the ultimate 1,245 mile journey across North America to Mexico. There, millions of Monarchs huddle together, creating a truly amazing site.

The story culminates with Urquhart and his wife, with the help of another couple, finally discovering where all those butterflies go. It's a moving scene, which happened in real life in 1975, as we see Urquhart finally getting the answer to the question of his life.

I took my seven-year-old to see the movie. Together, we've shared an interest in butterflies, starting with the very early days when she was a baby and I'd carry her over to our butterfly garden. She'd squeal each time one got anywhere close to her.

The movie moved us far past our garden, across a continent and to Mexico. It tells a fascinating tale that will make both of us take another look when we see Monarchs flitting around in our own yard.

I'd recommend it for grade schoolers and up. For details and showtimes, click here.
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