Tuesday, September 22 from 10:30 a.m. to noon
 Join fellow educators at Mississippi Gateway Regional Park for a tour of the Gateway Center. Get a behind-the-scenes peek at the newly constructed building and learn about the programs offered at the park. A naturalist will lead participants through the tour, which will conclude with a bird watching activity on the treetop trail.
This meeting will be held both indoors and outdoors with a short hike. Outdoor attire recommended.
Map to bus, bike, drive, or walk to Mississippi Gateway Regional Park.
Saturday, August 15 from noon to 2:30 p.m. at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis
 Bring gently used school supplies you no longer need. Take supplies you can use. Swap it—for free! The theme for this Swap-It event is school supplies. From calculators and paint to pencil sharpeners and rulers, there’s something for every student!
Early drop-off (no swapping) is available on Friday, August 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Mount Olivet Church or at participating Hennepin County Library locations through August 13. Look for a collection container or ask a librarian where to bring your donation. Items remaining after the swap will be donated to Hennepin County schools and afterschool programs.
Find guidelines, participating library locations, and a list of accepted items at HennepinCounty.gov/swap-it.
Host a swap event
Network meeting recording on how to host
Environmental education professionals from across the metro gathered virtually on March 11 to learn the ins and outs of hosting swap events from experts Emily Barker from ReUse MN and Twila Singh from the City of Edina. Swap events are a fun, sustainable way to reduce waste, share resources, build community, and support local reuse efforts. Watch the meeting recording.
Free technical assistance
Reuse Minnesota, in partnership with Hennepin County, is offering free help to organizations interested in hosting swaps. Schools, cities, nonprofits, businesses, and community groups in Hennepin County can get support from planning through the event day. Consultations are available through May 2027. Email swapit@reusemn.org to request help.
We toss nearly 40% of food in the U.S., much of it coming from our homes. The Save Food, Spend Less Challenge in October will be a chance to learn how to save up to $3,000 a year on groceries, spend less time on meal planning and shopping, and gain control in the kitchen.
By coming together with our community, we can make a real difference for our paychecks and the planet. But we can’t do it alone!
We are looking for partners to increase promotion, recruit, and engagement for the challenge. Use the connections you already have – with your residents, employees, organizations members, customers, program participants, friends, or neighbors – to make the event a bigger success!
There is no cost to becoming a partner, and partners get recognition and cross-promotion during the challenge.
See the 2026 partner guide (PDF) to learn more and fill out the partnership form. Businesses, community groups, cities, neighborhoods, schools, and retailers are welcome partners.
Thursday, August 27 from 5 to 6 p.m. at Veterans Park in Richfield
Join us for an all-ages workshop to create art using common invasive plants in Hennepin County. Foresters will provide guidance, instruction, supplies and invasive plant materials for use in your art. Participants are welcome to bring additional art supplies. This is an opportunity to create artwork you can take home and learn more about invasive trees and shrubs in our area. Do not bring any plants to the workshop; all invasive plants for repurposing will be provided.
Register for August 27 repurposing invasives.
Map to bus, bike, drive, or walk to Veterans Park.
The Hennepin County Youth Activities Grants program is now accepting applications from cities, public school districts, park districts, and watershed districts for the following grant opportunities:
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Play areas: up to $300,000
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Equipment: up to $10,000
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Lifeguard services: up to $50,000
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Arts and music: up to $25,000
Full instructions and applications can be found in the Hennepin County Supplier Portal under contracting opportunities. Applications are due on Thursday, September 10.
Preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species
 Hennepin County recently awarded 11 aquatic invasive species (AIS) grants, totaling $225,962 across two grant programs. Four grants totaling $77,800 were awarded to help local governments, nonprofit organizations, and other public entities supplement existing watercraft inspection programs or establish new ones. Seven grants totaling $148,160 were awarded to local governments and organizations to implement projects that prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
Environmental education grants include:
- Bolton & Menk, Inc.: $24,999, to monitor all 59 Hennepin County public boat accesses for new AIS infestations. The company will also work directly with lake associations and community members on recognizing, reporting, and helping prevent the introduction of AIS in their local waters.
- Christmas Lake Homeowner’s Association: $15,000, for AIS inspection and decontamination programing at the Christmas Lake public access, including inspections of incoming and outgoing watercraft with on-site decontamination.
- Fish Lake Area Residents Association: $2,800, for watercraft inspections in May and September at the Fish Lake public access.
- Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board: $30,000, to support its watercraft inspection and education activities at Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet, and Lake Nokomis.
- Three Rivers Park District: $30,000, to support its watercraft inspection and education activities on Medicine Lake, Fish Lake, Lake Minnetonka Regional Park, Lake Independence, and Bryant Lake.
- Waterfront Restoration LLC: $24,636, for boater education at boat launches. Waterfront Restoration Ambassadors will be stationed at Surfside, Grays Bay, Carsons, and Halstead Bay accesses on Lake Minnetonka along with accesses on Medicine and Long Lake in 2026.
- WaterGuards LLC: $23,600, for boater education at boat launches. WaterGuards ambassadors will be stationed at high-use accesses that are not otherwise covered by ambassadors and inspectors.
Learn more about these projects and how they plan to help protect our lakes and rivers.
Planting and protecting trees
 Hennepin County recently awarded 13 Healthy Tree Canopy grants totaling $278,700. Grants were awarded to 7 cities, 4 schools, and 2 nonprofit organizations, including congregations. Grant funding will be used to conduct tree inventories, expand the capacity of city forestry teams, and treat or remove and replace ash trees. Projects will also educate residents on the benefits of trees and engage them in tree planting efforts. More than 687 trees will be planted and 61 ash trees will be removed through the grant projects.
Environmental education grants include:
- Bloomington Independent School District 271: $9,960 to plant 40 trees and conduct tree-related education at Olson Elementary and Middle School.
- Robbinsdale Independent School District 281: $10,000 to plant 88 trees and conduct tree-related education at Zachary Lane Elementary School.
Learn more about healthy tree canopy grant projects.
Volunteers needed at Metro Children's Water Festival
Wednesday, September 30 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds
 Volunteers are needed to help over 1,800 fourth graders engage in interactive education about our water resources. This program is made possible by many generous contributors, including volunteers like you! All volunteers are provided with bagels and hot beverages in the morning and lunch.
Review volunteer positions and sign up.
ReuseMN conference
October 28 and 29 in Brooklyn Park
Reuse Minnesota's annual conference brings together leaders in reuse, repair, and rental. October 28 is a full day of sessions at Hennepin Technical College and October 29 offers tours of local reuse businesses.
ReuseMN conference details and registration.
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits annual conference
October 29 and 30 in Saint Paul
 The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits annual conference will be held in St. Paul with the theme Truth be told: stories, power, and the future we build, invites participants to tell their stories boldly and honestly.
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits conference details and registration.
NAAEE podcast: Nature journaling with John Muir Laws
 Tune in to the latest episode of The World We Want podcast about cultivating curiosity and observation through nature journaling. Hear from John Muir Laws who has inspired educators, students, scientists, artists, and lifelong learners to slow down and engage more deeply with the living communities around them. John discusses nature journaling as a tool for learning and discovery, the relationship between art and science, and environmental education through direct experience.
Free film screening: The Extraordinary Caterpillar
Tuesday, September 15 at 6:30 p.m.
 Join other caterpillar enthusiasts on International Caterpillar Day for a free, online screening of the film, “The Extraordinary Caterpillar” by filmmaker Jeff McKay. Attendees will participate in caterpillar trivia, watch the movie, discuss, and ask questions following the screening.
Register to attend the free film screening.
New USGS tool to map water supply
 The USGS has released a new interactive map that shows monthly water supply, demand, and loss across more than 80,000 local watersheds in the Lower 48 states. The tool makes complex hydrologic data easy to explore in a browser, helping users spot areas facing water stress and understand sector-specific water use. There are tutorials and resources available to help users quickly analyze local water conditions.
Explore the map.
Learn more
HennepinCounty.gov/environmentaleducation
Environmental education network Facebook group
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