Tuesday, June 2 from 11 a.m. to noon. Virtual on Microsoft Teams.
 Art is a powerful tool for environmental education, helping people connect emotionally with the natural world, spark curiosity, and inspire action.
Join the Hennepin County environmental education network to hear how two organizations are using art in their environmental education programming. Speakers will include staff from two Hennepin County Green Partners programs: ArtStart and We All Need Food and Water.
Come prepared to create an art piece of your own! Have these materials with you:
- Spare envelopes of different shapes and sizes (3-4)
- Index cards or pieces of scratch paper (3)
- Pencil
- Crayons or water-based markers
The following organization 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.
 Students learn about local birds and create puppets with ArtStart
ArtStart received funding through the Green Partners program to introduce students from three Colectiva Bilingüe dual-language schools to birds that live in the Mississippi River flyway. Students explored bird species and learned about their habitats through multiple visits to the Kroening Nature Center where they participated in naturalist-led activities both indoors and out.
Back in the classroom, artist Gustavo Boada used hands-on art to strengthen the students' environmental learning by asking them to create a bird puppet with moving wings, inspired by what they had learned.
Gravel bed tree nursery open house and tour
 Wednesday, June 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 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. Foresters will be available with educational resources, to answer any questions, and connect over tree care.
This open house will include 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.
Register to attend the gravel bed open house and tour.
Hennepin County has a guide available to assist schools with locker clean-out at the end of the school year. Plan a locker clean-out for this year to help prevent waste and maximize the reuse and recycling of school materials or start prepping for next year! Read the locker clean-out guide (PDF) for details.
English and Spanish resources about pollinators
Spring is in the air, which makes it the perfect time to explore bees, flowers, and other pollinators with your students. On the podcast “Orbit: Science for Kids on the Move!”, an entomologist from the American Museum of Natural History answers dozens of kids’ questions about pollinators.
Listen together, and then take the learning outside with hands-on activities designed for children ages 3 to 11.
Listen to the podcast and get resources in English and Spanish.
Growing Minds Conference
July 27 to 28 at St. Paul College in St. Paul
Join fellow K‑12 educators and the Minnesota and Wisconsin Agriculture in the Classroom programs to explore creative ways to bring plants and animals, food, and agriculture into your teaching. This two‑day conference includes immersive agricultural tours, interactive breakout sessions, and opportunities to connect with other educators.
Register by May 15 with the code SUMMER20 to receive $20 off the $100 registration fee.
Growing Minds Conference details and registration.
Learn more
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