- Free teacher training: Monarch Institute
- RSVP for the next environmental education network meeting
- Apply for school waste reduction and recycling grants
- Team up to save food and spend less
- Green Partners projects awarded
- Heart of the Beast project highlight
- Mississippi Park Connection project highlight
- Attend the next Swap It event: holiday decor
- Education, events and award opportunities
Saturday, September 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Cedar Isles neighborhood in Minneapolis
 Join fellow educators for a free training in hands-on activities and field work exploring monarch biology, ecology, and conservation. This institute is open to 3rd, 4th and 5th grade teachers in Hennepin County.
What you'll gain:
- Knowledge about monarch biology, ecology, and conservation
- Hands-on activities you can bring straight to your schoolyard or green space
- Skills in biodiversity and invertebrate identification
- A firsthand experience of the scientific process and how to bring that immersion to your students or program participants
- Digital curriculum
Spots are limited, register for the North American Monarch Institute teacher training today.
This training is offered by Hennepin County in partnership with Monarch Joint Venture.
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
 The application period for school waste reduction and recycling grants is closing on Thursday, October 15. There are two grants available to preschools, K-12 schools, colleges and universities:
- The school recycling mini grant allows applicants to select up to $5,000 worth of containers and BPI-certified compostable bags from the county’s product list.
- The school waste reduction and recycling grant is available to start or improve programs to divert recycling and organic materials from the trash. Grant funding can also be used to take steps to prevent waste, including wasted food.
Visit the school recycling grants web page to learn more about the available grants and apply. For application materials, submit a school recycling and waste reduction inquiry form.
Email schoolrecycling@hennepin.us to discuss your project ideas and for assistance developing your proposal.
Grantee highlight: Stonebridge World School
Stonebridge World School, a Kindergarten to 6th grade charter school in Minneapolis, received a school recycling grant in 2024. They started collecting organics in their cafeteria using a cart that staff bring to each table to help students sort their organics, recycling, trash, and utensils.
The school used their grant to purchase a dishwasher, metal utensils, and reusable trays to reduce waste. Over the course of the school year, they avoided using over 31,000 plastic forks and spoons! The school also started to collect organics from classrooms.
Stonebridge reported that these changes have been a great success and that students are excited to use the new trays and utensils.
 It’s time to team up for the Save Food, Spend Less Challenge! Come together with your community to collaborate and compete for the benefit of our paychecks and then planet.
About 40% of food in the U.S. is wasted, wasting the money we spent on it and the resources used to grow, ship, and store it. The challenge will help you use up your food to save time, money, and resources.
Sign up at savefoodmn.ecochallenge.org. Then start a team and invite your community to join you. Teams earn points together and get their own message board where they can share tips, ask questions, and celebrate successes. Join now, the challenge starts October 1.
 We recently awarded contracts for 27 Green Partners environmental education projects totaling $625,000. The program prioritizes environmental education and engagement with audiences that experience disparities.
Three types of projects were awarded:
- 10 organizations will work with adult audiences to motivate environmental actions
- 7 organizations will engage high schoolers and young adults in green jobs and environmental leadership
- 10 organizations will work with elementary and middle school youth on environmental education and stewardship
Together, these projects will engage more than 6,300 residents, including 3,100 youth, and reach about 240,000 people with environmental messages.
Grantee highlight: environmental puppet shows on tour
 In the Heart of the Beast is offering two new STEAM puppet shows as part of their Green Partners project. The shows are designed for students in 2nd through 5th grade.
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Trees are Cool: a young squirrel learns from their grandmother about planting trees, how the city’s ecosystem works, and how all living things are connected.
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Where the River Runs: a once-thriving river is thrown off balance by human activity. With help from plants and animals, the community learns how to protect and restore it.
To book a show or ask questions, email Elina at ekotlyar@hobt.org.
Grantee highlight: Mississippi Park Connection hosts VIPs (Very Important Paddlers) at Float Fest 2026
 Photo credit: Kurt & Edwige Photography
Float Fest is a one‑day community celebration of the Mississippi River. The event brings people together and encourages everyone to care for one of Minnesota’s most iconic natural places.
This year, Mississippi Park Connection welcomed families and individuals from underrepresented communities as Very Important Paddlers. VIP participants enjoyed a guided paddling trip along the river.
After the paddle, everyone gathered at Graco Park for lunch, games, and refreshments. The day continued with music, fun activities, and hands‑on ways to learn about the river.
 Volunteer in your community and become a Hennepin County Community Recycling Ambassador!
Community Recycling Ambassadors are trained in waste prevention, recycling and composting, and effective communication skills through a six-week course, with one class each week, taught by industry experts and community leaders. This program is free.
The fall class will be held in-person every Thursday from October 1 to November 5 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Northeast Recreation Center in Minneapolis.
 Saturday, September 26 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Eden Prairie Community Center
Early drop-off (no swapping) from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Bring gently used decorations you no longer need. Take home holiday decor you can use. Swap it—for free! The theme for this Swap-It event is holiday decor, from Halloween to New Year’s Eve and every holiday in between.
Print and use this flyer (PDF) to promote the swap to your program participants. Find guidelines and a list of accepted items at HennepinCounty.gov/swap-it.
Four seasons of Indigenous learning
Learn from an incredible group of Indigenous presenters from across during this presentation series! Each one-hour session takes place on the second Thursday of the month, November through May. All registered participants receive access to presentation recordings, and live ASL interpretation is provided.
Register for a four seasons of Indigenous learning course.
World Wildlife Fund Youth Conservation Leadership Award
Nominations due Friday, September 18
World Wildlife Fund’s Youth Conservation Leadership Award celebrates young people turning their passion for nature into community action. The selected leader will receive $5,000 to support their academic or professional development and help further their conservation work. Apply or nominate a conservation leader for the award.
Sacred Water, Shared Future: Honoring land, water, and cultural connections
Saturday, September 26 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Owámniyomni Okhódayapi (St. Anthony Falls)
Join Hennepin County and Owámniyomni Okhódayapi for a community gathering along Haha Wakpa (Mississippi River) to honor Dakota history, cultural teachings, and our shared responsibility to care for land, water, and one another.
Hear from community speakers and visit the market and resource fair. Community organizations and American Indian vendors can apply to be part of the market and resource fair.
See the Sacred Water, Shared Future event flyer (PDF) for more information.
North Star Sustainable Living Festival seeking workshop presenters
Event Saturday, October 10 in Minneapolis. Workshop applications due Saturday, September 26.
The North Star Sustainable Living Festival is seeking workshop presenters who can share ways to increase sustainability now, tomorrow, and in our lifetimes. The fair provides a table, chair, computer, projector, dry-erase board and electricity for workshops. There is no fee to host a workshop. Apply to present a workshop.
Learn more
HennepinCounty.gov/environmentaleducation
Environmental education network Facebook group
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