The Extraordinary Caterpillar
Get your Event Kit with promo materials and screening fees — or jump right in and host your own screening.
The Story
Over 98% of the living world on Earth is smaller than a bee. Yet humans view the planet as a world centered around themselves. Landscapes are deconstructed to suit human needs, often with little regard for the natural systems that sustain the food web. The Extraordinary Caterpillar follows the scientists and community activists with this peek into the dazzling world of nature’s tiniest superheroes.
To reveal the inner workings of our planet’s foundational food web, naturalist Sam Jaffe from The Caterpillar Lab uses dazzling macro-videography to magnify tiny, fantastical, anime-like creatures – caterpillars! Sam’s images reveal a weird and wonderful world beyond imagination of behavior, form, and function that will inspire people to take a second look at the hidden world happening in their own yard.
A poor understanding of biodiversity and native species has allowed for unchecked harm to be done to the natural world. Entomologist Doug Tallamy co-founded the Homegrown National Park movement to restore the ecosystems that provide habitats, clean air, and water. As Tallamy explains, caterpillars are essential to the food web: a single chickadee nest requires six to nine thousand caterpillars to survive their first two weeks of life. Even grizzly bears rely on caterpillars to fatten up for winter.
On a quest to document thousands of caterpillars – many never seen or photographed before – entomologist David Wagner hopes to record them as global insect populations have dropped by 45% since 1970. As he completes his latest book, The Caterpillars of Western North America, Wagner has seen firsthand the devastation of caterpillar populations.In Toronto, a group of youth walk through a patch of urban forest, encouraged to take a closer look at their environment. They are a part of EcoSpark’s mission to connect people of all ages with the living world. Hands-on experience helps them understand the importance of biodiversity, especially the keystone plants that help caterpillars to survive and thrive.
Toronto gardener Amanda McConnell demonstrates how private and public spaces can become thriving caterpillar habitats. For nearly four decades, Amanda has transformed her neighbourhood in The Annex into a treed and planted community. Her work shows how habitat restoration can begin in backyards,back lanes, community spaces and city parks.
Helping to understand the secret world of caterpillars and their ecosystems are research coordinator Jack Forrester from The Caterpillar Lab, entomology technician Antonia Guidotti from the Royal Ontario Museum, botanist and naturalist Laura Reeves, and horticulturalist Andrea F. Stauber.
From suburbia to exurban meadows, abandoned lots to city parks, The Extraordinary Caterpillar shows that exploring our environment begins not in distant wilderness, but right outside our doors!
Directed by: Jeff McKay
Our Connection to The Extraordinary Caterpillar
Homegrown National Park is proud to be the official U.S. partner for The Extraordinary Caterpillar, a new documentary by Jeff McKay. The film features our co-founder, Dr. Doug Tallamy, and shines a spotlight on the critical—but often overlooked—role caterpillars play in biodiversity.
Caterpillars are the engine of food webs. They feed birds, support pollinators, and keep ecosystems thriving. By restoring native plants, we restore caterpillar populations—and that’s at the very heart of our mission.
Screenings Are Just Beginning
The Extraordinary Caterpillar is just beginning its journey to audiences. A preview screening introduced the film to potential partners, and it has already aired on Canadian television. Community screenings are now being planned across North America.
Bring the Film to Your Community
Unlike our other recorded talks and webinars, The Extraordinary Caterpillar requires the purchase of a screening license. This ensures the filmmakers are supported and allows the story to continue reaching new audiences.
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Local theaters and cinemas
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Classrooms and universities
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Nonprofit organizations
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Churches and community centers
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HOAs and neighborhood associations
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City or municipal programs
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Garden clubs and nature groups
Partner With Us
Want to do more than host a showing? We’re seeking partners and sponsors to help bring The Extraordinary Caterpillar to communities across the country. Whether you’re a company, foundation, or civic group, your support can make a direct impact.
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Krista De Cooke.
Partners Logos
Host a Viewing Event
Marketing Kit
1. Download Instructions & Timeline to get yourself set up for a successful event.
2. Download and customize the individual materials below or download the full event kit.
3. After your event, please return here to complete the Post-Event Recap.
If you use this video for fundraising or other monetized purposes, a percentage of the proceeds should be donated to Homegrown National Park. For further details, please email info@homegrownnationalpark.org.
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Actions for Supporting Caterpillars
Start taking action right away with resources that support caterpillars and the plants they depend on. We’ll be adding more activities for kids, families, and communities as this campaign grows.
Discover Keystone Plants
The top native plants that host caterpillars and fuel food webs.
Make a Home for Wildlife
Find simple ways to create habitat in your own yard.
Camilla and the Caterpillars
A children’s story inspiring the next generation to care for caterpillars.
