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Educators and program managers from cities, watershed districts, nonprofits, schools, and neighborhood organizations gathered on Thursday, June 26, for the second Hennepin County environmental education network meeting of 2025. The topic was using nature as a metaphor for resilience and wellbeing.
Participants heard from Laura Rodriguez, Founder & CEO of Restoring C.A.R.E. (Capacity for Accountability, Reciprocity, & Empathy), LLC. Laura walked participants through activities and discussions about:
- Connecting with your own resilience through nature-based metaphors
- Engaging with interactive tools to examine personal values and purpose
- Developing a personalized wellness strategy with actionable next steps
Wheel of life activity
If you were unable to attend the meeting, consider doing this Wheel of Life activity (PDF). In the activity you will reflect on your current distribution of energy and time spent, as well as your ideal distribution.
Upcoming network meetings
There will be two more network meetings in 2025. Keep an eye on this newsletter and our environmental education network Facebook group for meeting announcements and details.
Friday, July 18 from 1 to 7 p.m. in Plymouth
Visit the Hennepin County gravel bed nursery for an open house and tour to learn about the use of gravel beds to store and prepare bare root planting stock through the growing season. There will be opportunities to connect with county foresters and talk about gravel beds, species selection, and planting stock management. Educational resources will be available, and foresters will be available to answer any questions and connect over tree care.
This is an open house with tours running regularly throughout the day and will be fully outdoors, on unpaved and uneven terrain. No bathroom facilities are available. Please register so we know to expect you and can send detailed instructions on how to get to the gravel bed.
 Take the Stop Food Waste Challenge to see how you can save money by tweaking your kitchen habits. Nearly 40% of food is wasted somewhere along the supply chain in the U.S., and much of that food waste happens at home.
Wasted food is a waste of money. The average family of four spends more than $2,500 on food that gets tossed every year. We waste time shopping for food we don’t have a plan to use and cooking food we forget to eat. All that uneaten food wastes the resources, energy, and labor used to create it.
“As a mother, I was initially interested in controlling food waste to save money. It wasn't until later that I learned how wasted food is also an environmental issue. So now I have several reasons for cutting my food waste,” said Anne S., a participant in a past Stop Food Waste Challenge.
How the challenge works
When you join the challenge this August, you commit to taking actions that will have the most impact in your household and get credit for what you’re already doing.
The first step is to sign up! Then join or start a team and start browsing the actions.
It's recommended that everyone starts with tracking their food waste for one week – it’s the best way to learn what’s going to waste in your household and identify ways to prevent it. Then choose actions that will have a big impact and build on your strengths, like better meal planning or cooking creatively.
Once the challenge starts on August 1, you will report your progress, see the positive impact of your actions add up, and connect with others. Participants will get email updates with resources and tips and opportunities to attend events hosted by Stop Food Waste Challenge partners.
By coming together with our community, we can make a real difference toward reducing waste and fighting climate change. The challenge runs August 1 to 31. Join the challenge at stopfoodwaste.ecochallenge.org.
 We are thrilled to announce that Hennepin County will be hosting a MN GreenCorps member starting in September, and the application for members is now open! The GreenCorps member will be integrated into Hennepin County’s Land and Water Unit and provide education, outreach, and project support for the West Metro Water Alliance, a partnership of watershed commissions, cities, and the county working to protect our lakes, rivers, and streams.
There are 58 positions statewide with a service term from October 8, 2025, through September 4, 2026. Please spread the word to anyone looking to build their professional experience in the environmental field. Applications are due Wednesday, August 6. Learn more and apply for MN GreenCorps!
Fix-It Clinics offer free, guided assistance from volunteers with repair skills to disassemble, troubleshoot, and (hopefully) fix small household appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more. Clinics teach valuable troubleshooting and basic repair skills, build community connections and reduce the number of repairable items that are thrown in the trash.
Download and share the Fix-It Clinic flyer (PDF) and use the sample articles and social media posts in the Fix-It Clinic media kit (DOCX) to promote the events to your audiences.
Host a Fix-It Clinic
If you are interested in hosting a Fix-It Clinic at your site, consider these requirements for hosting a successful event:
- A large, well-lit room big enough to fit at least 20 banquet-sized tables
- Twenty tables with four chairs each
- At least eight electrical outlets
- Wi-Fi
- Parking lot with at least 30 spaces
Please email at nancy.lo@hennepin.us or call 612-348-9195 for more details.
Upcoming clinics
Clinics are held on the second Saturday of most months from noon to 4 p.m., with the last items accepted at 3:30 p.m. Events are first come, first served. No pre-registration required.
- Saturday, August 9 at Eden Prairie Community Center, 16700 Valley View Road, Eden Prairie, 55346
- Saturday, September 13 at Armatage Recreation Center, 2500 West 57th Street, Minneapolis, 55410
Green Partners highlights
The following organizations received funding through the Hennepin County Green Partners program. Organizations receive training, support, and funding to implement projects that engage residents to learn about, protect, and improve the environment.
Spark-Y launches new high school partnership
 This spring, Spark-Y partnered with PYC Arts & Technology High School, offering students a chance to dive into sustainability through hands-on STEM learning. Students spent five weeks building a fully functioning aquaponics system, creating a closed-loop ecosystem where fish and plants support each other’s growth.
The project wrapped up with a field trip to Spark-Y's Northeast Minneapolis headquarters, where students showcased their system and celebrated their success.
Mississippi Park Connection hosts Float Fest on the Mississippi River
Saturday, August 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Float Fest brings the community together to paddle along the Mississippi River. Bring your own kayak or canoe or rent one through Paddle Share or other rental choices. There are multiple launch locations, each with a float party. Find Float Fest details, register, and reserve a rental canoe or kayak.
This Green Partners project focuses on connecting with the Mississippi River through outdoor experiences and education about its cultural and environmental significance. This project centers the experiences of Black, Asian, Latino/x, and Native American community members and their relationship to nature, land, and each other.
North American Association for Environmental Education Virtual Conference
November 3 to 6
The 2025 virtual conference will highlight how environmental educators can move forward by harnessing collective wisdom and diverse perspectives to create a more just and sustainable future. The themes is Forward Together. North American Association for Environmental Education conference details.
Midwest Environmental Education Conference
November 13 to 15 at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center in Makanda, Il
The Midwest Environmental Education Conference (MEEC) will include colleagues from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The theme is Nature Connects All and experiential presentations are being prioritized for the conference. The deadline to submit session proposals is Monday, July 21. Learn more about MEEC conference and submit a proposal. Registration will open in August.
Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education Conference
November 13 to 15 in Fall Creek, WI
The Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education (WAEE) is hosting a conference at Beaver Creek Reserve in Fall Creek, Wisconsin November 13 to 15. The theme is Strong Roots, Igniting Change. The deadline to submit session proposals is Thursday, July 31. Learn more about the WAEE conference and submit a proposal. Registration will open soon.
Minnesota Naturalists’ Association Conference
November 14 to 16 at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Lanesboro
The 2025 Minnesota Naturalists’ Association (MNA) Conference will be held at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center from November 14 to 16. The conference will feature keynote speakers, field trips, and a silent auction and raffle. The deadline to submit session proposals is Friday, October 3. Registration will open in September. Learn more about the MNA conference and submit a proposal.
Learn more
hennepin.us/environmentaleducation
Environmental education network Facebook group
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