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Educators and program managers from government agencies, nonprofits, schools, and other organizations gathered virtually on June 16 for the second Hennepin County environmental education network meeting of 2022. The topic was reducing food waste.
 Participants shared answers to questions in real-time during the presentation
The meeting started off with an interactive presentation from Amy Maas and Alisa Reckinger from Hennepin County that covered these topics:
- What we know about food waste and people’s barriers and motivations for taking action.
- Activities and resources to engage audiences in learning about and reducing food waste.
- The county’s upcoming Stop Food Waste Challenge and partnership opportunities.
Participants asked questions, provided input, and then enjoyed some fun food-focused networking time after the presentation. Check out the article (later on in this newsletter) about joining the Stop Food Waste Challenge if you would like to learn more about food waste.
Resources
 In 2021, Hennepin County staff and three lakes in Maple Grove piloted Lake Pledge, an aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention website originally created for lakeshore homeowners. The pilot was successful, and the program was expanded to more lakes in early 2022 with the addition of a mobile app option.
As of this July, the Lake Pledge website and app are now available to all lake users in Hennepin County.
Consider using the new Lake Pledge site and app to educate your audiences about aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention. Lake Pledge could be a good post-class activity to challenge participants to use after they learn about AIS at your site. It could also be used as a group during water-based summer camps or longer water-focused activities.
Participants should join Lake Pledge to learn what they can do to help prevent the spread of AIS in Hennepin County lakes.
Lake Pledge:
- Is free
- Is family friendly
- Will help participants learn how activities may unintentionally introduce AIS
- Includes short entertaining videos showing Hennepin County lake users taking action to prevent AIS
- Takes just minutes each week to participate
Join Lake Pledge
- On a computer: lakepledge.com
- On a mobile device: download the Lake Pledge app on Apple’s App Store or Google Play
When participants register, they should select the Hennepin County lake they use most often. When prompted to select the ways that they enjoy time on the water (sailing, fishing, kayaking, etc.) have them choose everything that applies to any lake in the county.
 Three pamphlets are now available from Hennepin County:
The pamphlets can be used to educate your audiences about building bird and bat houses, providing food and water sources for backyard bird populations, and supporting migrating birds and bats. Consider integrating these during birding classes, native plant restoration field experiences, or as a take-home material after night hikes.
Order printed versions of these 5.5" x 8.5" pamphlets at no charge.
Encourage your community to join the Stop Food Waste Challenge
We love food, which leaves us wondering: why do we let so much of it go to waste? About 40% of food is wasted somewhere along the supply chain, and you may be surprised to learn that much of that food waste happens at home.
Improve your food-waste-fighting skills
Learning skills like creating a meal plan, buying just what you need at the grocery store, cooking creatively, and properly storing food can have a big impact on reducing the amount of food that goes to waste.
Hennepin County’s online Stop Food Waste Challenge offers easy, practical tips and resources that will help you and your audience stop wasting food, put more money in your pocket, and create a healthier environment.
Spread the word and encourage others to join
The challenge runs from August 1 through August 31. Participants can sign up now! Encourage audiences you work with by starting a team for your community or organization.
Then spread the word by downloading media kits, which include sample newsletter articles, social media posts, graphics, and posters to promote the challenge. Access these on the Stop Food Waste Challenge resources page.
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Attend a Project Learning Tree K-8 workshop
Wednesday, August 3 from 8 a.m. to noon at St. Mary’s University Rochester Campus
Spend a fun morning getting standards-based, hands-on activities to engage your K-8 students in reading, math, science, and social studies—indoors and outside!
Project Learning Tree has developed 50 great lessons into one award-winning guide: Explore Your Environment K-8 Activity Guide. Instructors are from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Attendees will receive 4 CEUs. Cost to attend is $30. The registration deadline is July 27.
Learn more and register.
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Maawanji’iding gekinoo’amaagejig (Gathering of Teachers) Climate Change Teach-In
Thursday, August 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fon du Lac Tribal and Community College, Cloquet MN
The Teach-In will build educator's competencies in teaching climate change through the integration of indigenous (Ojibwe) traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) with STEM to encourage action, no matter the culture or location.
The Teach-In is part of the Climate Strong! initiative, a NOAA funded program with partners from Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, 1854 Treaty Authority, and the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve, with help from Climate Generation.
There is no cost to attend. The registration deadline is Friday, July 15.
Learn more and register.
Join an outdoor education professional learning community for kindergarten teachers
Join an Outdoor Learning in Kindergarten Professional Learning Community (PLC) hosted by Early Learning Services, a division of the Minnesota Department of Education. The PLCs are facilitated by two Minnesota outdoor learning experts and include monthly 90-minute virtual meetings and an optional open office hour. Participants will learn strategies for bringing kindergarten instruction outside, aligning outdoor learning with kindergarten standards, classroom management in an outdoor environment, supporting children with disabilities, and more!
The fall PLC will meet virtually from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, August 23, September 27, October 25 and December 6. There is no cost to join this PLC.
Learn more and register.
Register for the Minnesota Association for Environmental Education Conference
September 30 to October 2 at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland, MN
 Celebrate 30 years of the Minnesota Association for Environmental Education at the 2022 conference, themed Re-Discovering People, Nature, & Ourselves on the North Shore. This year’s conference will highlight promising and proven practices, help push the leading edge of the profession, advance equity and inclusion, and motivate the pursuit of excellence in environmental education, all while sharing and exploring the incredible resources on the North Shore. Early bird registration ends on August 15.
Learn more and register.
Call for presentations and save the date: Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education Conference
November 3 to November 5 in the greater Milwaukee, WI area
 Submit a presentation proposal
The Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education (WAEE) is seeking compelling proposals that inform environmental educators about proven practices, push the leading edge of the profession, and motivate the pursuit of excellence. The deadline to submit your presentation proposal is Friday, July 29.
Save the date
Join fellow environmental educators at the WAEE conference themed Awareness to Action. Attend to share perspectives, learn about different ways of knowing, share successful programs and practices for educating about our environment, and connect with peers. Conference sessions will be held both virtually and in person.
Learn more about the 2022 conference.
The following organizations received a Hennepin County Green Partners grant. The Green Partners grant program supports the county’s goals of promoting environmental stewardship, engaging communities, enhancing quality of life, and protecting the environment for current and future generations. The grants provide training, support, and funding to organizations to implement projects that engage residents to protect and improve the environment.
Highpoint Center for Printmaking hosts free ink day
Saturday, July 16 from noon to 4 p.m. at Highpoint Center for Printmaking, 912 W Lake St, Minneapolis
Highpoint Center for Printmaking invites the community to an afternoon of hands-on printmaking and creative fun. All materials for the planned activity are non-toxic and supplied by Highpoint (while supplies last), and no registration is necessary – just drop in, bring your creativity, and be ready to get inky! Staff and volunteers will be able to answer any questions along the way.
Create monotypes outdoors surrounded by Highpoint’s rain gardens! Learn why rain gardens and pollinators are important for our local environment and create your own vibrant monotype using an etching press.
This Free Ink Day includes a special guest: Erin Rupp of Pollinate MN! Learn about pollinators from an expert and observe a honeybee hive. (Bees will be fully contained)
Learn more about the event.
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Rethos hosts free home weatherization workshops
 Repairing and Restoring Old Windows class held in May 2022
Rethos, a regional nonprofit that advocates for the reuse and repair of old buildings, has been busy hosting six free home weatherization and energy efficiency workshops (PDF) to residents of Hennepin County in 2022. Workshops will teach homeowners, renters, and caretakers of old buildings how to maximize energy efficiency in their residences, saving money and prolonging the life of their homes.
Don’t miss the final two workshops:
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