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The final Hennepin County environmental education network meeting of 2022 was held on Thursday, December 1. Participants met to celebrate the work of network members over the past year, learn from a panel of environmental educators who have received grants from or partnered with Hennepin County, and to dive deeper or network in breakout rooms. Panelists shared details from their projects, success stories, and answered questions from the audience. View a recording of the meeting on YouTube.
The success of the network includes:
 The panelists included:
- Tyler Green from Highpoint Center for Printmaking received Green Partners Youth Environmental Education grants in 2021 and 2022. Tyler talked about linking environmental messages and lessons with art.
- Adrian Iacovino from Three Rivers Park District shared information about their partnership with Hennepin County on NatureFest and stories from youth who attended NatureFest in 2022.
- Lindsey Mieras from Prairie Seeds Academy received Healthy Tree Canopy grants from Hennepin County and spoke about her work engaging students in tree planting and tree education activities throughout their attendance at Prairie Seeds Academy.
- Alyson Quinn from Minneapolis Nature Preschool received Green Partners Youth Environmental Education grants in 2021 and 2022. Alyson talked about the outdoor nature spaces they have enhanced and utilized for environmental education for elementary students and their families.
Network members also sent photos for a slideshow highlighting successes and programs conducted by members of the environmental education network over the past year. View the slideshow (PDF).
Hennepin County is working to reduce plastic waste as part of achieving our zero waste and climate action goals. As part of this effort, we offer the Plastic-Free Challenge to engage residents in learning about plastics and committing to actions that help create a plastic-free world.
But we can’t do it alone!
For the upcoming Plastic-Free Challenge, which will run in February 2023, Hennepin County is seeking partners to help increase promotion, recruitment, and engagement for the challenge.
All partners will have their logo displayed on the challenge website, gain access to promotional materials, and get various recognition and cross-promotion during the challenge. There is no cost to becoming a partner.
In 2022, some of the partners in the challenge included Citizens for Sustainability – St. Anthony Village, cities of Brooklyn Park, Eden Prairie, Minneapolis, and St. Louis Park, Clean Water Action, Eastside Food Coop, Forever Ware, Freshwater, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, Off the Blue Couch, Seward Community Coop, Tare Market, The Zero(ish) Co., Three Rivers Park District, and Urban Bird Collective.
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Partnership opportunities include:
- Expanding our reach by promoting the challenge to your audiences.
- Strengthening engagement in the challenge by creating teams of colleagues, friends, and neighbors who motivate and hold each other accountable.
- Increasing our impact by offering educational events on plastic-free topics or discounts on plastic-free goods and services.
See the Plastic-Free Challenge partnership guide (PDF) for details on partnership opportunities, and fill out the partnership form to become a 2023 Plastic-Free Challenge partner.
The new resource below and many more on a number of topics including recycling, composting, and protecting natural resources are available to download or order for free from Hennepin County’s environmental resources order form. These resources are available to community groups, cities, schools, and residents in Hennepin County. Consider sharing these materials through your social media channels, website, or email newsletters or share the printed materials with your audiences at upcoming events. Be sure to plan ahead: it can take up to two weeks for us to send your order.
Hennepin County also offers a variety of communication resources to promote environmental programs, issues and news in your communication channels. These include media kits with newsletter articles, web stories, social media posts, images, and graphics that can be downloaded and customized.
New resource to help you reduce waste when you move
Moving can be a stressful and busy time. Luckily, our recently updated reducing waste when you move booklet (PDF) contains tips and resources to help you reduce waste and stress while moving. Consider sharing this resource with your audience when they are planning for a big move or spring cleaning in the new year. The booklet contains details about the following steps to take while moving:
- Give yourself enough time to sort through your things, dividing them into “keep” and “get rid of” categories.
- For things you are getting rid of, donate or sell them if they are in good condition (see our donation opportunities brochure (PDF)) and property dispose of the rest (search the Green Disposal Guide to find options).
- When packing, try to find boxes and packing materials from your community by posting on online neighborhood or sharing sites, checking with local stores, and saving up boxes you get from deliveries. Use soft items like pillows, blankets, and towels as packing materials.
- Clearly label boxes with what room they will go in and an inventory of what’s packed inside. Keep fragile items safe by packing them in sturdy boxes and wrapping them with soft packing materials. Pack an “open first” box with essentials for the first few days to avoid having to buy duplicates.
- When unpacking, give away your moving boxes and supplies and properly dispose of any waste left behind. This includes bringing any hazardous waste to a drop-off facility or collection event.
- Give yourself time to settle into your new place to make the best decision about additional items you need. Visit local reuse retailers or check online sale or sharing sites to find new-to-you items for your home. Visit Choose to Reuse to find local reuse retailers.
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Funding available for education on the health impacts of climate change
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) Foundation has issued a request for proposals from youth-focused organizations interested in engaging young people in raising awareness of the health impacts of climate change and helping communities take steps to prepare for and mitigate the effects. Youth is defined as ages 15 to 24. The foundation intends to make 10 to 15 awards ranging between $25,000 and $50,000.
What types of strategies and activities can be funded?
The CDC Foundation seeks proposals for projects that:
- Promote awareness of climate change and the corresponding health impacts within their community
- Promote actionable solutions to reduce impact of climate change on health
- Create pathways for meaningful partnerships and participation of young people
Applications are due Monday, December 19. Learn more and apply.
Hennepin County grants available for youth arts and music programming
 Local units of government, including park systems, cities and school districts can now apply for Hennepin County youth arts and music grants. Grants up to $25,000 are available. This grant program aims to support youth art and music programming and education in communities across Hennepin County. The youth arts and music grants are facilitated by Emerging Leaders, an African American led, youth-based nonprofit organization located in North Minneapolis.
To be eligible for the grant:
- Most of the youth served by the proposed project should reside within Hennepin County
- Youth served by the project must be 21 years of age or younger, with preference given to projects focusing on youth 18 years or younger
Grant funds may be used to reimburse:
- Arts equipment and supplies
- Music equipment and supplies
- Materials needed for programming, educational purposes, and performances
- Advertisement and/or outreach materials
Applications are due Wednesday, December 21. Learn more and apply.
For more information about applying, contact Marcus Hamilton at support@encouragingleadersmn.org or 612-662-5323.
Grants available to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species
Local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, institutions, and businesses in Hennepin County can apply now for funding to implement projects that prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
Grant funding can be used to address pathways of aquatic invasive species introduction, provide education, promote behavior change, implement early detection and rapid response efforts, and pursue other ideas that prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
Review the grant flyer (PDF) for more details. Applications are due by Thursday, January 12, 2023. Learn more and apply.
For more information, contact Tony Brough at tony.brough@hennepin.us or 612-348-4378.
Presidential Innovation Award for environmental educators
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators recognizes outstanding kindergarten through 12th grade teachers who employ innovative approaches to environmental education. Up to two teachers from each of EPA's 10 regions will be selected to receive this award. Awardees receive a Presidential award plaque and up to $2,500, and the teacher’s local education agency also receives up to $2,500 to fund environmental educational activities and programs. Applications are due Wednesday, January 11. Learn more and apply.
President’s Environmental Youth Award
The President’s Environmental Youth Award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes outstanding environmental stewardship projects developed by K through 12 youth. The program honors a wide variety of projects developed by students, classes, and clubs to promote environmental awareness and action in schools and communities. Each year, each of the 10 EPA regional offices selects up to one winner in each age group – Grades K to 5 and Grades 6 to 12. Award winners receive a Presidential plaque. Applications are due Wednesday, January 11. Learn more and apply.
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.
Urban Bird Collective will participate in the Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count
This winter, the Urban Bird Collective will participate in data collection during the largest community science program in the world: the Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count. This event gathers important information on bird movements and populations and helps lead to scientifically backed environmental advocacy for a safer world for birds, animals, plants, and humans. This year, the Urban Bird Collective will collect data in an assigned area in Minneapolis.
Urban Bird Collective volunteers will count all the birds in their assigned circle on a single day chosen between December 14 and January 5. Prior to their efforts in 2021 to resurrect local bird counting in Minneapolis, a winter count had not been held in more than 20 years.
“Reestablishing this count was an inclusion issue,” states Monica Bryand, Urban Bird Collective’s Executive Director. “We are thrilled to offer important outdoor activities right in our own neighborhoods.” This year’s count will be hosted at Theodore Wirth Park with assistance from Susan Wilkins of Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Department and Claire Wilson of The Loppet Foundation.
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Holy Trinity Lutheran Church helps residents make the switch to LED lightbulbs
Over the last year, volunteers with Holy Trinity Lutheran Church have engaged more than 770 people in changing their light bulbs to LEDs. During the project, more than 2,000 LED bulbs were given out to community members to replace less energy efficient bulbs. Volunteers have tabled and presented at community events and partnered with many organizations in their local community to get the word out. Through discussions, they have learned a lot about the barriers to taking action and what motivates people to change their bulbs.
The benefits mentioned most often include using less energy and saving money. The barriers to replacing bulbs with LEDs included cost, unfamiliarity with LEDs as an option, and confusion about choosing the right bulb. Some people want to wait until an old bulb burns out before changing it.
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 Volunteers created a bulb buying guide (PDF) that highlighted the costs and benefits of wasting energy versus tossing inefficient bulbs. To provide people with an opportunity to try out LED bulbs before they purchased them, Holy Trinity volunteers created a “library” of four different kinds of light bulbs in both 40 and 60 watts:
- Frosted
- Clear/visible filament
- Daylight
- Soft light
People had a chance to try out different colors of LED bulbs, from bright blue (5000 Kelvin) or soft yellow (2700 Kelvin). Holy Trinity Lutheran Church also uses a lightbar from the Center for Energy and Environment to display four different colors of LED bulbs at events and workshops to encourage more people to make the switch to LEDs.
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