 The Plastic-Free Challenge is a month-long effort starting February 1 to reduce plastic consumption, especially single-use plastics, in ways that fit best in your lifestyle and have the most impact on reducing your footprint. Nonprofit organizations, community groups, and businesses can join the challenge as partners.
The challenge runs during the month of February 2024. Registration opens on January 1. Sign up to be notified when registration opens.
The following organizations received a Hennepin County Green Partners grant. The grants provide training, support, and funding to organizations to implement projects that engage residents to learn about, protect, and improve the environment.
Lao Center of Minnesota provides assistance with applying for the Minnesota Energy Assistance Program
Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program helps pay heat and electricity costs for free for eligible households. The Lao Center of Minnesota is offering on-site support to help community members apply for the Energy Assistance Program as part of their Green Partners grant.
Walk-in assistance is available on Tuesday, December 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Visit the Lao Center of Minnesota’s Facebook page for more information.
Mississippi Park Connection celebrates a successful fourth year of BIPOC in the Outdoors program
 Photo courtesy of Lee Vue
The Mississippi Park Connection hosts intentional gatherings for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) to engage with parks and the outdoors through the BIPOC in the Outdoors program, funded in part by their Green Partners grant. In its fourth year in 2023, BIPOC in the Outdoors hosted nine events with 190 participants. Activities included hiking, picking up trash, paddling on the Mississippi River, learning about native plants and animals, and identifying mushrooms.
Creating more inclusive outdoor spaces is core to the mission of the BIPOC in the Outdoors program. “For Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities, the outdoors can often be unwelcoming or even unsafe. BIPOC individuals seeing themselves in outdoor spaces and their cultures reflected in park history signals belonging,” shared Tamara Few and Ze Thao Sengsoulichanh from the Mississippi Park Connection.
Now, the Mississippi Park Connection is working to expand affinity programs for veterans, the LGBTQ+ community, and people with disabilities. Improving access, representation, and safety fosters outdoor spaces where all benefit from nature’s nourishment.
Contact bipocevents@parkconnection.org to learn more.
ReUse Minnesota launches Club Mend, a mending club for youth
 Left to right: Club Mend instructor Kris demonstrates for the students; a student's completed yo-yo project; teacher Shannon Nordby proudly shows a recent repair. Photos courtesy of ReUse MN.
On December 1, ReUse Minnesota launched a new club at Roosevelt High School called Club Mend as part of the Green Partners grant. The mending club will meet twice per month throughout the school year and give students experience in machine repair basics, how to alter a shirt for a better fit, and more.
“Our grant allows us the opportunity to work with high school students to talk about reuse and give hands on time to put what is learned into practice. Sharing these skills with young people is an incredibly important part of ensuring that our vision of a reuse-based society continues to come to fruition,” shared staff from ReUse MN.
Learn more about Club Mend and how you can get involved.
Tangletown Neighborhood Association helps residents repair electronics and small appliances
 Photo courtesy of Tangletown Neighborhood Association
Tangletown Neighborhood Association fully comprehended the high demand for e-waste recycling after they teamed up with 15 Minneapolis neighborhoods to sponsor an electronic recycling event in 2022 where over 32,000 pounds of electronics and small appliances were collected for recycling. This led them to apply for a Green Partners grant to educate their community about prolonging the life of electronics and small appliances and properly recycling them at the end of their useful life.
Learn more and watch recordings of past webinars.
Local Community Grants available from Walmart
Walmart has Local Community Grants available for nonprofits and schools for a wide range of projects related to community and economic development, diversity and inclusion, education, environmental sustainability, quality of life, and more. Grants range from $250 to $5,000. The deadline to apply is Saturday, December 31. Learn more and apply.
Apply for a Green Ribbon Schools Award
The Green Ribbon Schools Award from the U.S. Department of Education honors schools, districts and higher education institutions that save energy and reduce operating costs, create environmentally friendly learning spaces, promote student health, and incorporate environmental sustainability into the curriculum. Applications are due Friday, January 5. Learn more and apply.
Presidential Innovation Award for environmental educators
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators recognizes outstanding kindergarten through 12th grade teachers who employ innovative approaches to environmental education. 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 Monday, January 15. Learn more and apply.
President’s Environmental Youth Award
The President’s Environmental Youth Award from the Environmental Protection Agency recognizes outstanding environmental stewardship projects developed by K-12 youth. Award winners receive a Presidential plaque. Applications are due Monday, January 15. Learn more and apply.
Climate Resilience in Your Community activity book
 This illustration represents a vision of the future where children, youth, and adults are learning together and are directly engaged in activities that improve the resilience of their community. (Image credit: NOAA Office of Education & Jessica B. Bartram, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
This resource from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration contains activities for youth to learn about climate impacts and resilience in their community including learning about the changing seasons and ideas for actions youth can take to combat climate change. Download the activity book and educator guide.
Minnesota outdoor skills and stewardship winter webinars
 Learn about or sharpen your outdoor skills with these upcoming online webinars from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Webinars begin at noon on Wednesdays and last less than an hour. Webinar topics include owls, the northern lights, ice fishing, boating equipment, wolf ecology, winter foraging, and more. Registration is free. Learn more and register.
Green Schools Conference
The Green Schools Conference is being held from March 5 to 7 in Santa Fe. The conference is hosted by the US Green Building Council and the Green Schools National Network. Sessions will cover topics including environmental impact, health and wellbeing, sustainability literacy, equity and whole school sustainability. Learn more and register.
NatStart Conference call for proposals
 The Natural Start Alliance's annual Nature-Based Early Learning Conference is being held from July 31 to August 3 in Portland, Oregon. Proposals for in-person presentations as well as pre-recorded virtual sessions are due Friday, January 26. Learn more and submit your proposal.
Learn more
hennepin.us/environmentaleducation
Environmental education network Facebook group
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