- Join us for networking and fun at the next network meeting
- More than $775,000 in Green Partners grants awarded
- Green Pathways interns wrap up their summer with Hennepin County
- Take the pledge to prevent aquatic invasive species
- Natural resource advisory groups
- Slingshot Challenge for youth
- Upcoming conferences and learning opportunities
Tuesday, October 8 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. with optional happy hour to follow at Utepils Brewing
 Get ready to connect, learn, and have a blast at the fall Hennepin County environmental education network meeting in north Minneapolis. This free event is all about getting to know others, building connections, and exploring an urban forestry site. Keep the connections going at an optional happy hour at Utepils Brewing beginning at about 3:45 p.m.
Dress to be outdoors from 2 to 3:30 p.m. A rain date has been set for Thursday, October 10 (we’ll let you know by Monday, October 7 if we need to reschedule).
 Hennepin County recently awarded 27 Green Partners grants totaling more than $775,000 to community organizations to engage their audiences in learning about and taking action to protect the environment. Green Partners prioritizes environmental education and engagement with audiences that experience disparities.
Grantees include nonprofit organizations, community groups, youth programs, congregations, park districts, schools, and community education programs.
Together, these projects will engage more than 9,400 people, including more than 8,100 youth, offer green job employment and training to more than 70 youth, and reach more than 116,000 people with environmental messages.
The program includes three types of grants. Six organizations will work primarily with adult audiences to motivate environmental actions, 17 organizations will work primarily with youth on learning about the environment and becoming environmental stewards, and 4 organizations will offer green jobs education, training, and employment.
Since Green Partners was established in 2012, the county has awarded 259 grants totaling more than $3.5 million. Stay tuned for updates on these projects in future issues of this newsletter.
Green Pathways interns recently wrapped up a busy summer of exploring environmental work and careers. The interns watered trees, learned about hazardous waste, and wrote social media content. They tabled at local food coops to promote the Stop Food Waste Challenge and conducted outreach at a National Night Out event. They even got a little wet while biomonitoring in Minnehaha Creek.
 Green Pathways interns hosted a table at Seward Coop to promote the Stop Food Waste Challenge and recruit participants for their team – the Chip Crusaders (left). Interns learned about trees and forests at an urban planting in north Minneapolis (right).
Now in its third year, Green Pathways is a paid summer internship youth of color. By creating a supportive cohort of youth and teaching green job skills for resumes, the program is designed to inspire youth to consider environmental careers, especially at Hennepin County.
This summer’s intern cohort was led by a recent graduate from Augsburg University and included three high-school aged interns recruited through the BrookLynk program.
 Hennepin County is a unique urban area. With 200 lakes, 640 miles of streams, three major rivers, 45,000 acres of wetlands and 50 public water accesses, there are so many opportunities to enjoy being on and around water.
The Lake Pledge site and app now allow groups to join and is a great way 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 outdoor education or longer water-focused activities.
Groups should join Lake Pledge to learn what they can do to help prevent the spread of AIS in Hennepin County lakes. Group members will work together to earn badges and printed certificates as they take pledges and view videos.
Sign your group up for Lake Pledge
To sign up a group, email Tony Brough, the Hennepin County Aquatic Invasive Species prevention coordinator at tony.brough@hennepin.us. Include the size of your group, your group name, and the lake you most often use in the county.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is recruiting new members to serve on advisory groups related to fish and wildlife, hunting and angling, aquatic invasive species, parks and trails, and natural heritage. Apply until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, September 27. Most terms begin in 2025 and last for three years. Details and application to join an advisory group.
 National Geographic invites youth ages 13 to 18 to submit a 1-minute video describing a solution for an environmental issue for a chance to receive up to $10,000 in funding to bring the solution to life. Register for the challenge, watch example videos, and join a workshop to brainstorm ideas. Submissions are due February 7, 2025.
Outdoor skills and stewardship webinar series
Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m.
 Sharpen your outdoor skills by attending a free online webinar through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Upcoming topics include the DNR’s cone and seed collection program, moose management challenges and opportunities, preserving the memory of your harvest, fun and easy campfire treats, and bobcats in Minnesota. Series details and webinar registration.
Free workshops from Ecology Project International
Free virtual monthly workshops on Thursdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Join Ecology Project International’s upcoming free virtual workshops. Educators will be introduced to classroom ready lessons aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and professional development to help them connect 6th to 12th grade classrooms to the environment. Workshops include:
- Patterns and Predictions for Climate Change on Thursday, September 26
- Climate Change, Wildfires, and Yellowstone on October 24
- HIPPO, Hexagons, and Classroom Collaboration on November 21
Learn more and register for a workshop.
Minnesota Association for Environmental Education Conference
October 4 through 6 at Camp Friendship in Annandale, Minnesota
At this year's conference, the Minnesota Association for Environmental Education 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 story of Camp Friendship. Attend the conference to connect with other professionals across the state, acquire new skills and knowledge, and leave feeling inspired to reinvigorate and renew your programs! Learn more and register to attend.
Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education Conference
October 24 to 26 in Wisconsin Dells
 The Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education is turning 50! And as part of the celebration, the annual conference is returning to Upham Woods in Wisconsin Dells from October 24 to 26! The theme is Connect, Explore, Engage: education for the next 50 years. Learn more about the conference and register by October 1.
Nature Everywhere Conference: call for presenters
Presentation proposal deadline: Friday, October 25
 The Children and Nature Network is seeking presentation proposals for the 2025 Nature Everywhere Conference, which will be held May 13 to 16 in Saint Paul. This is a unique opportunity to present your innovative projects and programs, life experiences, and inspiring ideas with a worldwide audience. The deadline for presentation proposals is Friday, October 25. Learn more and submit a proposal.
North American Association for Environmental Education Conference
November 6 to 9 in Pittsburgh
Join more than 1,000 conference attendees to explore how environmental educators build bridges across borders, disciplines, and ideas. With themes from climate education to leadership development, this event promises to ignite and inspire. Find out about scholarships, workshops, field trips, and register at conference.naaee.org.
Minnesota Naturalists’ Association Conference
November 15 to 17 at Deep Portage in Hackensack
The 2024 Minnesota Naturalists’ Association Conference will be held at the scenic Deep Portage from November 15 to 17. The conference will feature keynote speakers, field trips, and a silent auction and raffle. Presentation proposals are currently being accepted. Learn more, apply to present, and register for the conference.
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