Common Reader’s ‘Bicycling with Butterflies’ author to give eight presentations Oct. 20-27 throughout CMC’s district

Jane Goodall, the renowned primatologist and conservationist who passed away Oct. 1, once praised Sara Dykman’s book, “Bicycling with Butterflies.” She called it “an extraordinary story” and “a lament for our thoughtless destruction of nature and at the same time, a celebration of the beauty that remains.”

That endorsement feels especially poignant now. As the world remembers the groundbreaking conservationist, Dykman continues in her own way, inspiring others by highlighting the interdependence of humans, pollinators and the planet.

This month, Dykman will give live presentations throughout the college’s district about her book, the college’s 2025 Common Reader selection and winner of the 2021 National Outdoor Book Award. The narrative recounts her first-of-its-kind, 10,201-mile journey by bicycle, tracing the monarch butterfly migration from Mexico to Canada and back.

Common Reader

Every year since 2007, a Common Reader committee of Colorado Mountain College faculty and staff selects a book for students, employees and community members to read together. Faculty weave the book into their classes, while the college provides free copies of the selected title and sponsors an art and creative writing contest.

The college also invites the author to give free live talks. All community members are welcome and encouraged to attend, regardless of having read the book.

Dykman is appearing at the following locations:

• CMC Vail Valley at Edwards, 6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 20.
• SteamPlant Event Center, Salida, 12 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 21
• CMC Leadville, 6 p.m., Tuesday. Oct. 21
• CMC Breckenridge, 6 p.m. (livestream option), Wednesday, Oct. 22
• CMC Steamboat Springs, 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 23
• CMC Rifle, 6 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24
• CMC Aspen, 12 p.m., Monday, Oct. 27
• CMC Spring Valley at Glenwood Springs, 6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 27

Besides interacting with the author, attendees can expect a slide presentation and book signing. Complementary copies of “Bicycling with Butterflies” will be available at the event.

‘A mile at a time’

Dykman, who describes herself as an outdoor educator, field researcher, cyclist, conservationist and science communicator, said her journey taught her many lessons. Chief among them: Don’t wait to be an expert before taking on challenges.

“The message is that we can’t wait until we’re the perfect person to become an advocate, or think that we’re not ready,” she said. “Metaphorically, take it a mile at a time. The beautiful part is what I learned and all that is possible.”

She also knew she didn’t have to have the most advanced equipment to bicycle over 10,000 miles. Dykman rode what she calls her “beater bike,” a 1989 Specialized HardRock, building it with a mixed array of components. And her panniers, or bike cargo bags, weren’t top of the line. She used plastic kitty litter containers to carry her gear.

The monarchs provided innumerable lessons, too. A key takeaway is their connection with one another. Like Goodall’s and Dykman’s multi-generational support of each other’s work, it takes four or five generations of monarchs to complete the migration from Mexico to Canada and back.

“Monarchs are all connected,” she said. “They teach us so much about community. No single monarch can make the migration alone.”

Registration and information for in-person talks, a Oct. 22 livestream of Dykman’s Breckenridge presentation, Spanish language resources and the Common Reader art and writing contest are available at CMC's 2025 Common Reader.