This year, to celebrate Earth Day (coming up on Monday, April 22), we invite you and your community to participate in the Earth Action Challenge. Every day in the week leading up to Earth Day, we’ll focus on an action that you can take to protect the environment and connect you with resources to help you take that action.
During the week, we'll focus on recycling smarter, greening your spring cleaning, getting around in a sustainable way, ditching disposables, capturing rain water, cleaning up in our communities, getting outside, and making every day Earth Day.
Learn more about the actions we'll be focusing on and commit to participate. Then spread the word – we’ve got resources to help you encourage others to join.
During the challenge, you’ll receive a daily email with additional tips and links to helpful resources for taking action. Follow along on social media and share your experience! We’ll be posting about the challenge on Hennepin Environment on Facebook and @hennepinenviro on Twitter.
Share your Earth Day and Arbor Day events
Once again this year, we’re compiling a list of Earth Day and Arbor Day events happening throughout Hennepin County. Check out the map and list of events that we’ve compiled so far, and let us know if you have any to add!
Send event information to Alisa Reckinger at alisa.reckinger@hennepin.us. Include the event date, time, location, website link, and brief description.
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Minnehaha Creek Earth Day photo contest
With 129 lakes, eight major streams, and thousands of wetlands within the Minnehaha Creek watershed, the photo opportunities are endless! The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District has announced their annual Earth Day Photo Contest, running through Sunday, April 7. You can submit up to five photos. Good luck and have fun!
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Applications for Green Partners environmental education grants will be accepted starting April 1
Applications for the next round of Green Partners environmental education grants will be accepted starting April 1. This program provides funding and support to organizations to actively educate, engage and motivate residents to become environmental stewards and make positive behavior changes.
Grant applications will be accepted in two groups: motivating behavior change with adults and promoting environmental stewardship with youth.
This will be the only Green Partners funding round offered this year. Applications will once again be accepted through the county’s supplier portal. If you’re planning to apply, it’s a good idea to get registered in the portal now.
Information sessions will be held:
- Online webinar: Tuesday, April 9 from 2 to 3 p.m. Save the date, more information and link will be available on the Green Partners web page soon.
- In-person: Tuesday, April 23 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, 2522 Marshall St NE in Minneapolis
For more information, contact Patience Caso at patience.caso@hennepin.us or 612-348-9352.
March Madness and hosting green events
Basketball fans rejoice! Minnesota is again hosting a big sports finale. College basketball’s Final Four will be held in downtown Minneapolis in April. If you missed your chance to get tickets, no problem. We have the tips you need to host a zero waste Final Four party of your own.
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- Set up your recycling, trash and organics containers together and make sure they are well labeled to help guests get the right material into the correct container.
- Pull out the real plates, utensils and napkins and treat your guests in style. While basketball-printed party supplies may be tempting, they cannot be recycled or composted.
- Decorate with what you already have, like real basketballs and jerseys, instead of balloons or cutouts. You can also make edible basketball-themed decorations using oranges, carrots, bell peppers, red pepper hummus, or dips made from butternut squash or sweet potatoes.
- For beverages, think in bulk instead of single-serve containers. With so many microbrewery options in the Twin Cities, it’s easy to purchase your beer and cider in growlers or kegs. Serve water, juice or soda in pitchers.
Spread the word by sharing our Choose to Reuse Final Four Celebration article.
Visit the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center during Doors Open Minneapolis
Doors Open Minneapolis, coming up on May 18 and 19, is a weekend event that allows the public free, behind-the-scenes access to buildings in Minneapolis that are architecturally, culturally, or socially significant.
The Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) will be participating in Doors Open. HERC converts Minneapolis’ trash into energy that provides electricity to 25,000 homes and heat to Target Field and downtown buildings. Visitors can learn how HERC works, see the waste pit and trash trucks on a live video feed in the visitor center, and discover ideas to reduce waste.
Learn what other properties are participating and start planning the places you will visit on the Doors Open website. There are also volunteer opportunities available.
Spring yard care sales and workshops
This spring, discover a few of the local offerings and resources available to the Hennepin County community.
Hennepin County compost bin sales
Get started composting in your backyard. Hennepin County sells compost bins at distribution events and at the Hennepin County Drop-off Facility in Brooklyn Park.
Events this spring are scheduled for May 7 in Minneapolis, May 9 in Crystal, and June 6 in St. Louis Park. Bins must be pre-ordered for pick up at a distribution event, or can be purchased during regular facility hours at the Brooklyn Park drop-off facility. There’s a backyard compost workshop in conjunction with the distribution event in Minneapolis on May 7. Learn more and pre-order a bin.
Recycling Association of Minnesota rain barrel sales
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Recycling Association of Minnesota's annual rain barrel sale is happening now! RAM partners with cities, counties and watersheds to offer high quality, low cost, rain barrels made from recycled material. Rain barrels must be preordered for pick up at a distribution event. Events are scheduled in several cities in Hennepin County. Find sale details and place an order. |
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Metro Blooms resilient yard workshops
Metro Blooms is hosting resilient yard workshops throughout the metro area this spring. Topics include raingarden installation, storm water management, and tree and flower recommendations. Participants get access to 1:1 landscape design assistance.
Tree steward training
Saturday, April 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the City of Plymouth Maintenance Facility, 14900 23rd Ave N in Plymouth
Learn the basics of tree care and help take care of the urban forest in your community by becoming a tree steward. Volunteer tree stewards take a one-day class that covers the basics of tree biology, health, planting, watering, and pruning through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on, outdoor field experience. Volunteers will then have opportunities to practice their skills by helping with various tree planting and tree care projects in the community.
The class costs $25. No experience is needed, and all tools and safety equipment are provided. A light breakfast and lunch will be served. Learn more and sign up.
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2019 Water Summit: Bridging Science and Society
Thursday, May 9 and Friday, May 10 at the Minnesota Science Museum
The 2019 Water Summit will explore new and innovative ways to protect our surface and groundwater resources while also highlighting the role people play in determining the outcomes of our work. Hosted by the Freshwater Society in partnership with the Minnesota Stormwater Committee and the Minnesota Ground Water Association. Register here.
Green Schools Conference
Monday, April 8 and Tuesday, April 9 at the St. Paul RiverCentre
The Green Schools Conference and Expo (hosted by the US Green Building Council and the Green Schools National Network) is the only national event to bring together all the players involved in making green schools a reality. The conference will include sessions and speakers on topics including student-led sustainability efforts, green buildings, climate change, and zero waste.
Reminder: apply to present at the Midwest Environmental Education Conference
The 2019 Midwest Environmental Education Conference will be October 3 through 5 at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul. See the conference website for more information and to submit your proposal. Submission deadline is March 31.
Go solar information sessions in Minneapolis and St. Louis Park
The Great Plains Institute, Solar United Communities, and iMatter are teaming up through a Green Partners environmental education grant to coordinate and promote a solar co-op in Minneapolis and St. Louis Park. Homeowners can join the group at no obligation to receive discounted pricing and unbiased, installer-neutral support throughout the process. The project team will ensure that homeowners understand the basics of installing solar and EV charging as well as receive a competitive proposal from a qualified installer.
The group is hosting an information session on Wednesday, April 24. A free community dinner and visioning session will start at 5:30 p.m., and the solar information session will start at 7 p.m. Spread the word by promoting the group web page or Facebook event.
WaterWorks! A Drinking Water Institute for Educators
August 5 through 7 at Oakdale City Hall and Water Services
Students need to know that drinking water is a valuable, limited, and engineered resource. Enrich your water-related curricula at this summer's WaterWorks! Institute, offered by Hamline University's Center for Global Environmental Education. Learn about inquiry-based models for your classroom and discover resources within your community. Participants can choose two graduate credits or a stipend. Learn more and register.
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