Skylar MacNaughton

Hello, my name is Skylar MacNaughton, President and founder of Michigan Butterfly Habitats Inc. We started this nonprofit in 2022 however my family has been raising and protecting Monarch Butterflies since 2017.  Boyne City Michigan has been my home all my life and is currently where we make all the butterfly magic happen. MacNaughtons and Hagermans are originally from Carson City Michigan where my farming gene comes from. My two brothers and I were raised by our very strong, independent loving mother who made sure we had a warm roof over our heads and food in our bellies growing up. We were one of the few families that didn’t have many relations in the area.  But over the past 36 years of my life, I can humbly say my community is family, not by blood, not by marriage but by the love of the community we share. This is the place we call home and we will continue to raise our children in.

Six years ago my life looked much different. After getting myself sober from a long addiction from opioids, my life changed for the better. That spring of 2017 was the hardest. With my wife, kids and community at my side, I was able to conquer that addiction and realized I had more to give the world. After that my eyes were open and volunteering slowly became a lifestyle. I even had the opportunity to take a truckload of supplies all donated by locals to Texas after Hurricane Ian hit. This sparked a passion for volunteering; I joined service clubs, started a nonprofit, became a planning commissioner, a life coach to the youth in our area and I started volunteering wherever and whenever I thought my abilities were best needed.  In the grand picture of things, my family and I hope to be homesteaders but still very involved in our community. We will always continue to give back anyway we can and most importantly back to Mother Nature, we will always do our best to take care of her.

Running a nonprofit is just one of many things I do in my everyday life. I am a stay-at-home dad part of the time with two crazy fun children.  In addition I own and operate The Gnarly Artisan wood shop where my mind creates whatever it desires or a customer requests. Being a Boyne City Planning commissioner and a board member of the Charlevoix Conservation District keeps me busy as well.  When not giving back to our community, I enjoy camping with my family and paddle boarding whenever I am able. Although gardening and saving the Monarch Butterflies are my main passions in life. Nothing is more satisfying than moments to myself when I can sit in my gardens and watch Mother Nature express herself.