 In May, we provided 46 yards of free compost to 22 schools in Minneapolis, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Edina, Plymouth, and St. Louis Park that have an organics recycling program! The compost was supplied in partnership with Dakota Prairie Composting.
The finished compost is an offer of gratitude to the schools that helped generate it and helps “close the loop” by returning nutrients to the soil and showing students the result of their organics recycling efforts. Schools used the compost in vegetable and pollinator gardens and to enrich flower beds and trees on their grounds.
To learn more about the program, email schoolrecycling@hennepin.us.
 Every tree planted means prettier neighborhoods, cooler yards, and healthier communities. Hennepin County is over halfway to its climate-action goal of planting 1 million trees by 2030. Every tree gets us closer, and the best part is, you can help make it happen! It’s easy as 1, 2, Tree.
- Pick the right tree for you
- Plant the tree
- Take care of the tree
Use this promotional kit (DOCX) to spread the word about HennepinTrees.org with your audiences and program participants. The site includes a tree selection quiz, short how-to videos, and links to tree resources.
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.
EMERGE seeking youth for Urban Landscape Design training and paid work experience
EMERGE Community Development is partnering with the UFOR Laboratory at the University of Minnesota's Saint Paul campus to offer a one-week training from June 22 to June 26. Participants will learn about urban gardening, tree and plant care, plant biology, and more through hands-on fieldwork and classroom activities. During the training, participants can also earn their Minnesota Tree Inspector Certification. Apply here.
EcoAlpha at events in Hennepin County
 EcoAlpha’s Zero Waste Ambassadors have been active at outreach events across Hennepin County. They recently attended the Hennepin County Fair and the Asian Fair and also tabled at the Mall of America. At each event, EcoAlpha engages visitors with hands-on activities that encourage waste reduction and reuse. Read more about their recent events on their blog.
MIGIZI Green Tech youth compete at Solar Boat Regatta
Youth in the MIGIZI Green Tech program competed in the 34th annual Minnesota Renewable Energy Solar Boat Regatta. They used a canoe they built last summer with solar equipment to power it. The team earned two awards: 2nd Place Student Class and Best New Student Boat.
Threads4Change featured in Eden Prairie Local News
 Threads4Change, a student-led club at Eden Prairie High School, was recently featured in Eden Prairie Local News. The club promotes sustainability through fashion. Members learn how to mend clothing, host events like clothing swaps, and track how much water they save though upcycling.
The winning student team from Hopkins high school included Amelia Carriveau, Blake Hill, Ian Horner, Ruby Leiss, Pierce McNulty and their advisor John Sammler.
In May, a team of students from Hopkins high school won the state Envirothon competition and will go on to represent Minnesota in the international competition in July! A total of 23 teams and over 125 students competed at tne Minnesota Envirothon, including teams from two Hennepin County schools.
Envirothon, sponsored by the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, is a hands-on, outdoor field experience and environmental-science-focused academic competition. Teams of five students test their knowledge and problem-solving skills across five stations – forestry, soils, water, wildlife, and current events (nonpoint source pollution for 2026). Students also prepare a presentation based on a current events scenario, which for this year was how to implement changes to reduce pollution runoff to community waterways.
 Lawns to Legumes: Habitat at Home is a free, guided program to help create, expand, or care for pollinator friendly spaces this fall. Participants receive seasonal step-by-step guidance, access to webinars and resources, and opportunities to connect with a community across the state. Optional coaching is available as capacity allows. Share information with your audiences or sign up together.
This program is offered through Lawns to Legumes, a collaborative state-funded effort administered by Blue Thumb, which Hennepin County is a member of, and the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources.
Natural Start Alliance online conference
June 23 to 26
The Natural Start Alliance conference brings together educators, administrators, researchers, and advocates to advance equitable nature-based early learning. Online conference registration includes a library of 50+ on-demand sessions, live streams of featured sessions from San Antonio, live online sessions, and an online workshop. Learn more about the Natural Start Alliance conference. Cost: $175.
Learn more
HennepinCounty.gov/environmentaleducation
Environmental education network Facebook group
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