 Educators, volunteers, and several interested staff members gathered on Tuesday, June 11, for the second Hennepin County environmental education network meeting of 2024. The topic was integrating weather in environmental education.
Attendees learned about weather patterns, climate, forecasting, and more from Emily Jackson, a meteorologist with Hennepin County Emergency Management. The group discussed severe weather warnings, cloud types, how thunderstorms form, and various tools used to forecast weather. They then got a behind-the-gate tour of the various weather sensors and data-recording tools that are part of the Mesonet station at the Hennepin County Public Works Facility in Medina.
Several resources and volunteer opportunities were shared:
Upcoming network meeting
Stay tuned to future editions of this newsletter and the Facebook group for an invitation to our next network meeting, which will be in-person and have a focus on building stronger connections in our network through shared environmental education experiences.
 Hennepin County is soliciting proposals from businesses or organizations for forestry workforce development programming, which includes adult arborist apprenticeship programming, adult and youth introductory tree maintenance programming, and wraparound services to support both programs. Proposals are due by Monday, July 8.
A total of $1.9 million has been allocated for this programming. Funding for this work is provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and USDA Forest Service. Contracts awarded are anticipated to span a two-year duration, with each participant cohort expected to be active in the program for one year.
Additional details and how to apply.
School recycling assemblies with Twin Cities Road Crew
 Hennepin County partnered with Twin Cities Road Crew during the 2023 to 2024 school year to provide assemblies on waste reduction and recycling for elementary students. The Twin Cities Road Crew performed at 24 schools, reaching approximately 7,000 students. All participating schools had at least 50% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Each student received a Recyclo activity book to reinforce the messaging after the performance.
Of the school staff who attended assemblies and completed surveys about them, 100% would recommend the program to another school and said that students learned new behaviors to help the environment. The assemblies will continue in the 2024 to 2025 school year at more than 20 schools.
Compost provided for free to schools with organics programs
 In May, we provided 143 yards of free compost to 33 schools that have an organics recycling program! We partnered with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Organics Facility to provide the compost. The finished compost helps “close the loop” and show gratitude to the schools that helped generate it. The compost will be used in vegetable and pollinator gardens and as a source of nutrients for flowers and trees on school grounds. Email schoolrecycling@hennepin.us to learn more about the program.
LGBTQIA2S+ Pride demonstration box tending on Nicollet Island
Tuesday, June 25 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Join the Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) for a special evening during Pride Month to come together and revitalize the planting demonstration boxes in the Nicollet Island prairie. FMR is leading a multi-year restoration of the natural areas on the north half of Nicollet Island in partnership with Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, Hennepin County and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.
 Together with the guidance of FMR staff, volunteers will dig in to tend to grasses and wildflowers, which provide examples of native prairie plantings to park users. These plants provide ideas of what might create good habitat in their own neighborhoods.
This event is for those who self-identify as LGBTQIA2S+ or as allies of the queer community! No experience is needed; however, registration is required, and capacity is limited. All tools, gloves and training will be provided. Additional details and registration form.
Get involved: collect data on urban heat
Saturday, July 27
Hennepin and Ramsey counties are seeking volunteer “street scientists” to help discover which areas of the community are hottest during extreme heat.
Volunteers will mount heat sensors on their cars and drive designated routes on one of the hottest days of the year. The data is being gathered as part of NOAA’s 2024 Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaign. Volunteers will get $25 pre-paid debit cards as a thank you.
This data, paired with community engagement, analysis, and modeling, will help develop hyper-local descriptions of where the hottest parts of neighborhoods are, inform strategies to reduce the health impacts of extreme heat, and better provide cooling relief for those living in the hottest areas.
Learn more about the project, and complete the volunteer interest form to get involved.
Have a group of people that wants to participate? One person from your group can fill out the form and indicate how many additional people are interested.
Explore planet Earth with Teek and Tom in NOAA’s new animated series
 This five-part animated series follows extraterrestrial student explorer, Teek, and NOAA climate scientist, Tom, as they explore planet Earth! The series is designed for students in 4th through 6th grade and focuses on lessons about weather and climate including how oceans influence the Earth’s climate, weather extremes, how scientists gather weather data, and how we can learn about our changing planet.
Watch the five-part series.
Energy card game from Subject to Climate
This engaging card game is designed for students in 3rd through 8th grade. Players learn about the sun as the ultimate source of energy, powering all processes and living things on Earth. Players will create connections to help them better understand how energy converts from one form to another.
Get teaching tips and download the printable card game.
Virtual workshop: using Data Puzzles to explore ecological tipping points
Wednesday, July 17 and Thursday, July 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
 In this free virtual teacher workshop, participants will engage with Data Puzzle lesson tasks from both the teacher and student perspective and leave the workshop prepared to facilitate Data Puzzle lessons in their classrooms!
Registration form for Data Puzzles workshop.
Smithsonian National Education Summit
July 16 through 18 with online, on-demand, and in-person (Washington DC) opportunities
 The 2024 Smithsonian National Education Summit, themed "Together We Thrive: Connecting at the Intersections,” is a free three-day program. The summit will explore themes at the intersections of science, art, culture, and history and will draw thousands of educators nationwide, including teachers, curriculum specialists, librarians, state education agencies, administrators, and museum and cultural educators. Professional development certificates will be emailed after the summit.
Additional details and registration for the Smithsonian National Education Summit.
Both events are free and take place at the Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Drive in Minnetonka.
Make recycled book art
Saturday, June 15 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Drop in and create art using damaged books that would have otherwise ended up in the recycling bin. This event is best suited for kindergarten through 6th grade students and their families.
Register to make recycled book art.
Learn about composting
Thursday, July 11 from 1 to 2 p.m.
Learn about the importance of recycling and composting and help sort through materials to determine what can be recycled and what should be put in the organics recycling. Participants will follow the compost recipe to make a compost sandwich and reinforce their learning with a fast-paced relay game to practice deciding if an item should go in the trash, recycling, or compost bin. This event is intended for kindergarten through 5th grade students.
Register for the composting event.
Learn more
hennepin.us/environmentaleducation
Environmental education network Facebook group
|
