|
Proposals are being accepted now for Green Partners environmental education grants.
If you’ve been involved with the grant program in the past, you’ll notice some changes have been made based on an evaluation we recently concluded.
Type of grants
We are now awarding two types of environmental education grants:
-
Motivating behavior change for projects that focus on motivating adults and older youth to take one or two environmentally friendly actions using behavior change strategies. See the motivating behavior change guidelines for more information.
-
Youth environmental stewardship for projects that work with youth on developing an environmental ethic and interest in environmental stewardship using environmental education best practices. See the youth environmental stewardship grant guidelines for more information.
Funding levels
Two levels of funding will be awarded:
- If you have received a Green Partners environmental education grant before, you can apply for up to $20,000 for a one-year project or up to $40,000 for a two-year project.
- If you have never received a Green Partners environmental education grant before, you can apply for up to $10,000 for a one-year project.
Eligible organizations
Nonprofit organizations, park districts, private and public schools and school districts, and community educations programs are eligible to apply.
Applying for a grant
Proposals are due by 4 p.m. on Friday, August 31, 2018.
Application materials are available on the new Hennepin County supplier portal. Applications must be submitted through the supplier portal. Find instructions for registering with the supplier portal on the Green Partners web page.
Information meetings
Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend an information meeting or contact the program manager, Patience Caso at patience.caso@hennepin.us or 612-348-9352, for feedback on project ideas before applying.
2018 Green Partners grant information meetings will be held:
- Wednesday, August 1 from 10 a.m. to noon at North Regional Library, 1315 Lowry Avenue North, Minneapolis
- Thursday, August 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. at North Regional Library, 1315 Lowry Avenue North, Minneapolis (come early for the Green Partners networking meeting and meal on food justice!)
Information meetings are a chance to hear about the changes we made to the program, navigate the new county application process, learn about effective education and engagement strategies, get assistance with your application or project ideas, and network with other organizations to share ideas and discuss partnership opportunities.
Bring your laptop and your organization’s tax ID number to an information meeting to get help registering your organization with Hennepin County so you can apply for grants.
Please RSVP to patience.caso@hennepin.us or 612-348-9352. RSVPs are appreciated but not required.
Resources to help you complete your application
See the Green Partners grants flyer (PDF) for a comparison of the grant options.
A list of best practices, sample applications, and insurance requirement guidelines are available on the Green Partners web page.
2019 Choose to Reuse coupons now available
 Choose to Reuse coupons help you get great deals on quality products, support local businesses, and protect the environment.
Coupons are valid August 1 through October 31 at 59 local retailers that rent, repair, resell, consign and exchange used goods.
There are several ways to get free Choose to Reuse coupons, including through the Chinook Book App, ordering a print version, or picking one up at a participating retail location, Hennepin County service center or library, and at Three Rivers Park District locations. Learn more.
Spread the word
A newsletter article, social media posts, and images are available to help you promote the Choose to Reuse coupons.
|
 Hennepin County’s Zero Waste Challenge offers education and hands-on assistance to participating households to identify low-waste lifestyle changes they would like to make and track their progress by reporting the amount of recycling and trash generated in their homes.
This is a great opportunity for households who are interested in taking steps to prevent waste but aren’t sure where to start.
The county is looking for 50 households to participate in the eight-month-long challenge. The challenge will run from September 10, 2018 to April 30, 2019.
Interested household should apply to participate by Sunday, August 19.
|
The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) is currently seeking nominations for their annual awards for Excellence in Environmental Education. Nominations are due August 3, 2018. Learn more and consider nominating an individual or organization today!
Follow the adventures of Recyclo at Hennepin County libraries
 A new educational display aimed at promoting literacy and recycling will be rotating through various Hennepin County libraries this summer and fall. The display follows the story of Recyclo, a superhero who teaches youth about the power of recycling all while fending off villains like the evil Lord Waste-A-Ton and Garbage Giant.
The display will be located at the following libraries:
If you want to use the library display as part of an educational program, check out our recycling activity guides for ideas of what you can do before or after your visit. Activities include creating a recycling monster, doing a recycling waste sort or relay race, and closing the loop on recycling.
Preventing food waste events and resources
 As we enter peak growing season in Minnesota, we’ve been doing outreach to encourage people to learn how to take steps to prevent food waste.
We’ve been at the downtown farmers market at the Hennepin County Government Center Plaza testing visitors’ save the food knowledge and sharing tips for storing fresh produce to make it last longer. Our last day of tabling is Tuesday, July 31.
We’re also a partner in bringing Open Feasts to Open Streets events this summer and fall. Open Feasts involves collecting food that would otherwise go to waste from various sources, including farms, wholesalers and retailers, and then preparing the food into a tasty dish that is served to the public for free. Open Feasts will be at the September 9 Open Streets on Broadway Avenue and the September 24 Open Streets on Nicollet Avenue.
|
There are many good resources to engage people in learning how to prevent food waste:
Resources to make your National Night Out celebration eco-friendly
National Night Out, a time for communities and neighbors to come together, is also a great time to showcase how to hold a green event and do some outreach on environmental issues.
The following resources are available to help with your outreach. National Night Out is coming up on Tuesday, August 7, so develop your plans and order the materials you will need now!
Green Partners networking meetings
Green Partners networking meetings are open to the public and applicable to anyone engaging audiences to motivate environmental stewardship and action to protect the environment. We have two upcoming opportunities to learn about an environmental topic and network with others to share resources and ideas.
If you are interested in attending either meeting, RSVP to Patience Caso at patience.caso@hennepin.us or 612-348-9352.
Food justice
Tuesday, August 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at North Regional Library in Minneapolis.
Join us for a community meal and to learn from community leaders about food justice work in the community.
Bonus: stay for the Green Partners environmental education grants information meeting from 1 to 3 p.m.
Aquatic invasive species, water quality, and habitat
Thursday, August 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Water Patrol in Spring Park.
Join us at Lake Minnetonka to learn about aquatic invasive species, water quality, and habitat protection. Learn what you can do as a resident and an educator to stop the spread of invasive species in our water. Hear from Hennepin County staff and partners about education and outreach efforts and resources to reach residents and those who enjoy our lakes.
Lunch and bus transportation from Minneapolis and St. Louis Park will be provided. Note this meeting was rescheduled from July due to weather.
Making Connections: Minnesota Association for Environmental Education annual conference
The Minnesota Association for Environmental Education (MAEE) is hosting its annual conference next month. The theme this year is Making Connections and focuses on exploring connections between environmental education and other areas of learning. Topics to be explored include science, social-emotional development, and art through the lens of nature.
The one-day conference will be held on August 11 at McColl Pond Environmental Learning Center in Savage, which offers an inspiring landscape in which to learn and make connections with other educators. Learn more and register.
Tree stewards class
 A tree steward class is being offered at the Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield on August 18 for anyone interested in learning about tree care and protecting the health of our urban forest.
Tree stewards are trained volunteers who learn the basics of tree care and then have opportunities to participate in tree care and tree planting events in their community. The class covers tree biology and care, including tree identification, health, watering and pruning, through a combination of classroom instructions and hands-on, outdoor field experience.
If you or your organization is interested in doing more outreach on trees, this is a great way to increase your knowledge and skills.
|
 We are currently funding seven community organizations in the pilot Green Partners GROW program to encourage residents to sign up for and participate in organics recycling programs in Minneapolis and St. Louis Park.
Activities the groups are doing include:
- Conducting outreach at various National Night Out block parties coming up on August 7
- Hosting information tables at the Kingfield Farmers Market and Nokomis Farmers Market
|
- Using door-knocking and social media to encourage signups.
- Training block captains and community leaders to help spread the word
- Hosting workshops for residents to learn about the benefits of organics recycling
- Going on a tour of a commercial composting site to see the composting process first-hand
|
Some specific activities coming up:
- Minneapolis Climate Action is holding Compost Captain training at various sites in northeast Minneapolis on Saturday, July 28; Wednesday, August 1; and Thursday, August 23.
- The Recycling Association of Minnesota is hosting workshops for St. Louis Park residents on Thursday, July 26; Wednesday, August 22; and Saturday, September 15.
For more information about the Green Partners GROW program, contact Jessica Arika at jessica.arika@hennepin.us or 612-348-3025.
|
