The dream of a true believer
Anita Camacho, Butterfly Tampa’s CEO, has been an advocate for organic gardening and respect for nature since she was a young girl. “I have wanted to bring a butterfly conservatory to the Tampa Bay area for many years. After visiting many of them around the world, I felt it was a much-needed asset in our community,” she said.
“There’s a lot to do in Tampa Bay, but this is different from other attractions. It will be a peaceful, tranquil place where people of all ages can come to reconnect with nature and learn about the important roles native plants and insects play in our environment.”
In addition to butterflies, Butterfly Tampa will feature revolving exhibits of pollinator-friendly plants as well as bees, reptiles, insects, arthropods, moths and other creatures. Education programs will be offered to members and visitors, tour groups and students.
“I have always been fascinated by the metamorphosis of the butterfly,” said Anita. “It’s amazing to see what the tiny creature undergoes as it begins as a tiny speck of an egg on the underside of a leaf and transforms into a beautiful creature with wings. People view the butterfly as a symbol of endurance, change, beauty, hope and life.
Through education and outreach, our goal is to increase awareness about the importance of pollinators and our natural environment. We aim to inspire people about the ease and joy of natural gardening for homes, businesses, schools, and farms. We intend to work with our city, and neighboring cities, to do the same in the hope of helping to reverse the ongoing destruction of butterfly and pollinator habitats in our local areas by providing a place to experience and understand nature and beauty.”
To inspire conservation of butterflies and other pollinators, restoration of their habitats, and protection of the environment through research, public education, and recreation.
Ainsley serves as the Grant and Education Consultant at Butterfly Tampa, where she helps oversee and implement diverse programs and initiatives. She holds a B.S. In Environmental Science and policy from the University of South Florida with experience in reptile and invertebrate biological research. Passionate about giving youth a voice in environmental advocacy, she also teaches Earth Science at the Middle School level and leads several environmental youth groups. Her favorite animals at Butterfly Tampa is the Lubber Grasshoppers. In her free time, Ainsley enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Margot's many responsibilities include digital marketing, website development, project management and more! She has been employed since the initial phase of Butterfly Tampa in 2019 which then followed with the first pop-up native plant shop in 2020. We've come a long way and grown a lot since then! Her favorite butterfly is the tiny but colorful Atala and her favorite native plant is Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). In her spare time, Margot enjoys retail therapy, coloring and spending time with her favorite human: her granddaughter.
Trinity is a member of the Horticulture Staff at Little Red Wagon Nursery. She is currently pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy at the University of South Florida with a concentration in analysis and a minor in Anthropology. A lover of wetland ecosystems, her favorite native plants are pickerel weed and bald cypress. In her free time, she enjoys crafty activities like drawing, crocheting, and collage, as well as long road trips to hike and camp in new places.
Shiv is Butterfly Tampa's Consulting Herpetologist. He holds a B.S. in Environmental Science and an M.S. in Biology from the University of South Florida. Shiv has numerous active research programs, which focus primarily on molecular ecology and diseases in herpetofauna. At Butterfly Tampa, his favorite animal is Brooks, our Apalachicola Kingsnake. In addition to a passion for wildlife, Shiv enjoys cooking, climbing mountains, and watching cricket in his free time.
Zach is one of Butterfly Tampa's insect caretakers. He is currently pursuing a B.S. in Biology, concentrated in Ecology and Evolutionary studies. He holds a special interest for ants and spiders, which he plans to investigate further through research projects involving arthropod phylogeny. At Butterfly Tampa, his favorite arthropod is Lucas, our regal jumping spider. In his free time, he likes to collect retro video games and to go for walks at different nature preserves in Tampa.
Alex is one of Butterfly Tampas Invertebrate keepers. This means she cares for all of the invertebrates that are housed in our exhibit rooms and provides education information for visitors. She graduated December of 2024 with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy. Her main focus for the future is with wildlife management/conservation, including some native plants and insects. Butterfly Tampa has many fascinating plants and exhibits with Alex's favorites including the vinegaroon, regal jumping spider, malachite butterfly, queen butterfly, saltbush, and tea tree. She also enjoys hiking, adventuring, camping, cooking/baking, and caring for her own collections of plants.
Jamie graduated in Spring of 2024, earning a B.S. of Environmental Science and Policy and a minor in Anthropology, primarily focusing on sustainability, conservation, and living with the land. Special interests and goals for the future include wetland ecology and preservation, flora and fauna identification, marine life, and bird conservation. Jamie is one of our team's Invert and Reptile Keepers, as well as a Nature Interpreter. This means that the daily ins and outs of the job are to take care of the many different species present in the exhibits for both native and non-native species of invertebrates, amphibians, and reptiles, as well as explaining and sharing facts about each individual species. Rusty, our blue-tongued skink, is Jamie's favorite of the bunch. Jamie's favorite Florida native species are the pink sundew, sunshine mimosa, and the American beautyberry.
4113 Henderson Blvd Tampa, FL 33629 • 813.551.BFLY (2359) • Info@ButterflyTampa.com