Hennepin County is providing free resources and assistance for small businesses and nonprofit organizations to start or improve recycling and organics recycling. Applicants may select up to $3,000 worth of containers and compostable bags from the county's product list. Review the grant guidelines (PDF) and grant flyer (PDF) for details on container and bag options.
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until Monday, November 13, 2023, or until the annual program budget is exhausted, whichever occurs first.
Visit the business recycling web page to learn more and apply.
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 Hennepin County has a grant program to fund projects that prevent waste at nonprofit organizations or businesses. Areas of focus include replacing disposables with reusables, preventing food waste, and pursuing innovative projects around research and development (to prevent waste).
Applicants may apply for up to $50,000 toward a project, with a minimum of $5,000. Grants over $10,000 require a 25% match. Review the grant guidelines (PDF) and the grant flyer (PDF) for details.
Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until Monday, November 13, 2023, or until the annual program budget is exhausted, whichever occurs first.
Visit the business recycling web page to learn more and apply.
Using our Power Energy and Climate Justice Fair
Saturday, January 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Liberty Community Church, 2100 Emerson Ave North, Minneapolis
As part of their Green Partners projects, MN Renewable Now and Rusty and the Crew are hosting this free event to connect with community and share resources that save money, create local green jobs, save energy, and protect our planet.
Attend the fair to learn about topics that save energy and money:
- Renewable energy opportunities, like community solar, that provide electric bill credits
- Energy efficiency resources that save you money
- Green job training opportunities
- Zero waste and recycling information
This event is the culmination of the work of MN Renewable Now, in partnership with Minneapolis Climate Action, Community Solar and Environmental Justice Cohort of North Minneapolis, Neighborhood Hub, and North Minneapolis community members.
Register for the fair.
Become a Community Recycling Ambassador
If you are looking for ways to volunteer in your community and the knowledge to better educate your audiences on waste prevention, recycling, and composting, consider becoming a Hennepin County Community Recycling Ambassador (formerly known as Master Recycler/Composter)! The rebranding of the Master Recycler/Composter program to Community Recycling Ambassadors better reflects Hennepin County’s efforts to reduce racial disparities and serve all residents, in all areas, including waste reduction and recycling.
Community Recycling Ambassadors learn effective communication skills through a six-week course taught by industry experts and community leaders. This training program is free to participants.
The spring 2023 class will be held every Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. from February 15 through March 22. This is a hybrid class with the option to join virtually via Zoom or in-person at the Northeast Recreation Center, 1530 Johnson St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413.
The application for the spring class will open on Monday, January 23 and close on Sunday, February 5.
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Webinar: Environmental justice and the future of EE
Wednesday, January 25 from 3 to 4 p.m.
Many marginalized communities experiencing environmental injustices are also those most vulnerable to the effects of the climate crisis. Environmental educators have a unique opportunity to empower communities living within impacted areas to take a stand for justice with the tools necessary to make change. Join Parker McMullen Bushman as she discusses the connections between socio-cultural inequities, environmental issues, and the power of EE to make change. This free webinar is hosted by the North American Association of Environmental Education and the United States Forest Service as part of the eeInspire webinar series. Webinar details and registration.
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Join the Plastic-Free Challenge and take action to help create a plastic-free world
Plastics can be a hassle – they create clutter and can be confusing to recycle – plus they contribute to litter, harm water and wildlife, and have largely unknown health impacts for us. Fortunately, there’s a lot we can do to help create a plastic-free world, from learning more about plastic waste and recycling to making simple swaps to advocating for changes in your community and sharing your story with others.
Hennepin County is encouraging partners and residents to be part of the solution to reduce waste, protect water and wildlife, address climate change, and look after the health of ourselves and future generations by joining the Hennepin County Plastic-Free Challenge this February.
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Help spread the word by:
Call for presentations: Nature-Based Early Learning Conference
Proposals due Friday, February 17
 The Nature-Based Early Learning Conference will be held virtually from July 24 to 28. This year’s conference theme is Bringing Back Balance. Session proposals that explore the mental health and wellness of children, families, and educators, are especially requested.
Sessions will be offered in both live and on-demand formats. They range from 30 to 50 minutes in length. Proposal guidelines and application.
Minnesota Facilitator Summit
Saturday, March 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at YMCA Camp Ihduhapi in Loretto, MN
The Minnesota Facilitator Summit is a fun and fulfilling opportunity for challenge course, teambuilding, and experiential learning facilitators — anyone who leads, instructs, or facilitates in a group setting! The one-day training provides opportunities to network with other regional facilitators and professionals, learn new skills and techniques, and create a Midwest community of practitioners. Cost is $30 per attendee, and students get a discounted rate of $14. Lunch is included.
Register for the summit.
The following are job opportunities in environmental fields. If your organization or workplace is currently hiring, share the opportunity with the network in the Hennepin County environmental education network Facebook group!
Communications Manager with Environmental Initiative
The person in this position will partner with Environmental Initiative staff across all teams to execute a broad range of communications activities for events, projects, fundraising, and the organization. The ideal candidate is a creative and motivated communications practitioner with a talent for managing communications projects and collaborating with project teams. This is a part-time position (32 hours/week) with benefits and starting salary in the range of $50,000 to $60,000. Full job posting.
Ecologist with Great River Greening
The responsibilities of this position may include natural area restoration, management plans, native plantings, working lands, pollinator monitoring, shoreline restoration and climate adaptation/carbon storage/sequestration. The ecologist will conduct independent field and site reviews and must have access to a car. The position often requires travel up to two hours one-way, and occasional overnights and Saturdays. This is a full-time position with benefits and a salary range of $45,000 to $50,000. Full job posting.
Environmental Solutions Manager with Great River Greening
The Environmental Solutions Manager will lead the expansion of the fee‐for‐service program. The responsibilities of this position include small native plantings on residential properties, rewilding efforts on corporate campuses, and large-scale restoration within wildlife management areas. This is a full-time position with benefits and a salary range of $50,000 to $65,000. Full job posting.
Naturalist Educator with EcoElsa
Naturalist Educators are responsible for facilitating environmental education experiences at local parks around the metro area. Classes seek to help participants develop a connection to nature and their local parks through fun activities that also help teach other subjects and skills. There are position openings for part-time seasonal and full-time seasonal positions. Starting salary is $19/hour. Full job posting.
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.
MN Renewable Now engages residents in north Minneapolis in renewable energy programs
MN Renewable Now has been awarded a two-year Green Partners grant for 2022-2024 to continue work from a previous Green Partners grants to engage residents from north Minneapolis in reducing their carbon footprint through energy efficiency solutions. In their previous grants, MN Renewable Now has worked to sign up residents for renewable energy, conduct energy audits, and complete the state’s weatherization program. Through this work, north Minneapolis residents have lowered their carbon footprint and lowered their energy bills.
For their current grant, MN Renewable Now is partnering with high school students from North Community High School to lead the Power North initiative. Through the Power North, residents and businesses are empowered to choose clean electricity and reduce energy consumption. Power North galvanizes residents of north Minneapolis to take clean energy actions including energy efficiency audits and installations, joining community solar gardens, enrolling in the Solstar Program (YouTube), and opting into wind source on their energy bill. Through the program, north Minneapolis residents and Power North participants will be referred to energy efficiency and solar energy workforce training opportunities. These opportunities will help to create pathways into green careers to ensure that north Minneapolis does not get left out during the transition to a more sustainable future.
Minneapolis Nature Preschool engages in their school forest
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Minneapolis Nature Preschool’s current Green Partners grant will help build a multi-year plan to train teachers at Bryn Mawr Elementary and Anwatin Middle School to utilize the school forest. Teachers from multiple disciplines, including science, special education, and physical education, are increasingly interested in connecting students with the forest. An environmental educator from Minneapolis Nature Preschool will share examples of teaching in the field at staff meetings to help inspire additional outdoor learning across more classes. Review examples shared with staff in fall 2022 (PDF). |
Learn more
hennepin.us/environmentaleducation
Environmental education network Facebook group
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