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Green Partners Environmental Education Program

Engage, educate, act and collaborate for the environment

Hennepin County provides funding and support to organizations to to actively educate, engage and motivate residents to become environmental stewards and make positive behavior changes.

We focus on actions to prevent waste, recycle, reduce household hazardous waste, conserve energy, care for trees, protect pollinators, and improve our air and water quality. 

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Environmental education grants

Proposals are being accepted now for Green Partners environmental education grants.

About the grants

Hennepin County awards two types of environmental education grants:

  • Motivating behavior change for projects that focus on motivating adults and older youth to take one or two environmentally friendly actions using behavior change strategies. See the motivating behavior change guidelines (PDF) for more information.
  • Youth environmental stewardship for projects that work with youth on developing an environmental ethic and interest in environmental stewardship using environmental education best practices. See the youth environmental stewardship grant guidelines (PDF) for more information.

Two levels of funding are awarded:

  • If you have received a Green Partners environmental education grant before, you can apply for up to $20,000 for a one-year project or up to $40,000 for a two-year project.
  • If you have never received a Green Partners environmental education grant before, you can apply for up to $10,000 for a one-year project.

Eligible organizations

  • Registered nonprofit organizations such as community groups, youth programs and congregations
  • Park districts
  • Private and public schools and school districts, including community educations programs like early childhood family education

See the Green Partners grants flyer (PDF) for a comparison of the grant options.

Applying for a grant

Application due date

Proposals are due by 4 p.m. on Friday, August 31, 2018.

You can find the application materials on the Hennepin County supplier portal. You must submit your application through the supplier portal.

Before you can submit your application, you must:

  1. Register an individual account with Hennepin County Online Services, THEN
  2. Go to the supplier portal, log in, and register your company's information or register as a new user with your organization. Learn more and get instructions.

Information meetings

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend an information meeting or contact the program manager, Patience Caso at patience.caso@hennepin.us or 612-348-9352, for feedback on project ideas before applying.

2018 Green Partners grant information meetings will be held:

Information meetings are a chance to hear about the changes we made to the program, navigate the new county application process, learn about effective education and engagement strategies, get assistance with your application or project ideas, and network with other organizations to share ideas and discuss partnership opportunities.

Bring your laptop and your organization’s tax ID number to an information meeting to get help registering your organization with Hennepin County so you can apply for grants.

Please RSVP to patience.caso@hennepin.us or 612-348-9352. RSVP appreciated but not required.

Resources to help you complete your application

Best practices

To help organizations develop successful proposals and projects, we've compiled the best practices for grant projects (PDF). These were developed based on input received from past Green Partners grantees about how they define success and their advice for other project managers.

Sample applications

Insurance requirements

Hennepin County requires organizations to have insurance in order to conduct Green Partners environmental education projects. See the insurance requirements (PDF) to learn what is required. Some projects may require more insurance than what is listed; Hennepin County will contact you if this is the case. 

If your policy does not meet these requirements, contact the Green Partners program manager at patience.caso@hennepin.us or 612-348-9352 for more information.

Program evaluation

We recently concluded an evaluation of the grant program that allowed us to reassess goals, analyze project outcomes, check alignment with community needs and county goals, and look for efficiencies in program management.

Through the evaluation, we heard from current and past grantees, past applicants, community groups, grant managers from other programs, and Hennepin County staff.

The following changes are being implemented in 2018 based on the program evaluation:

  • Separate applications are being accepted for projects that focus on developing an environmental ethic and interest in environmental stewardship with youth and projects that motivate behavior change among older youth and adults.
  • Applications will be accepted once per year.
  • Hennepin County will now post opportunities on the supplier portal.
  • Organizations that have received a Green Partners grant in the past are eligible to apply for up to a two year grant and receive up to $20,000 per year. Organizations that have never received a Green Partners grant before are eligible to apply for a one year grant and receive up to $10,000.

Read the Green Partners evaluation: feedback report and program recommendations (PDF) for a detailed summary of the feedback we received and the corresponding program changes being recommended.

Grants for organics recycling outreach

Hennepin County is conducting a pilot project with the goal of increasing participation in residential organics recycling programs through peer-to-peer outreach. Participating organizations will receive training, funding and environmental education resources to conduct a project in their communities.

Program set up

Participating organizations will:

  • Attend two days of training to learn about organics recycling, uncover the barriers to organics recycling with their audiences, and develop a project plan. Two representatives from each organization will receive a $250 stipend for completing training, conducting barrier and benefit research with their audiences, and submitting a project plan.
  • Receive a grant of up to $10,000 and free supplies to engage their audiences in signing up for or increasing their participation in organics recycling programs.

 Participating organizations

The following community groups are receiving funding in 2018 to engage their audiences in learning about and participating in organics recycling programs:

  • Cleveland Neighborhood Association will engage 500 residents in the Cleveland, Folwell and Jordan Neighborhoods, focusing their outreach to people of color, renters and youth. They will table at events, conduct workshops for the block leaders and do monthly door-knocking.
  • Field Regina Northrop Neighborhood Group will engage 500 neighbors by training block leaders on residential curbside organics collection, participating in the annual neighborhood celebration and holding composting cafés. They will also engage youth in making a video on organics recycling and promote their activities through social media.
  • Kingfield Neighborhood Association will engage 390 residents in the Kingfield neighborhood. They will focus on training block leaders who will lead engagement on the block-level as well as at community events. They will have home-based events, outdoor events and three workshops to train the block leaders.
  • Linden Hills Power and Light will engage 300 residents in project activities in Linden Hills and four neighborhoods in Northeast Minneapolis – Bottineau, Holland, Logan Park and Sheridan. Building on past efforts and success in Linden Hills, they will apply the same outreach model in Northeast Minneapolis by recruiting block leaders established through city programs. They will train block leaders through a workshop and table at events to encourage sign-ups for residential organics recycling.
  • Lyndale Neighborhood Association will engage 750 residents in project activities in the Lyndale and Bryant neighborhoods through peer-to-peer mentorship, an organics resource fair, and learning labs. They will also conduct outreach to the Somali and Latino communities.
  • Northside Residents Redevelopment Council will engage 150 residents in the Near North and Willard Hay neighborhoods through workshops, youth engagement and block leaders. They will have some outreach focused specifically on reaching Hispanic and Somali communities.
  • Recycling Association of Minnesota will engage 150 residents in project activities in St. Louis Park. They will provide residents with information, education, tools and resources through neighborhood and community events and follow up workshops.

Applications

Applications are not being accepted at this time.

Learn more

See the Green Partners Grow flyer (PDF) to learn more about program guidelines and requirements. If you have questions, contact Jessica Arika at jessica.arika@hennepin.us or 612-348-3025.

Get field trip transportation and supplies through the Seed group

About the Seed Group

Groups can receive transportation funding for an environmental education field trip and supplies for environmental education activities. Apply for these resources at any time (see specific guidelines regarding timing below).

Participants in the Seed Group are looking for support and resources to plant the seed of environmental awareness and action in their community. They are looking to collaborate with Hennepin County in a flexible partnership that requires minimal reporting and evaluation.

Eligible groups include any organization that serves Hennepin County residents, except businesses and political groups.

Activity supplies

Receive free activity supplies to engage people in environmental education activities. Available supplies include spray bottles to make homemade, green cleaners, and reusable bags.

Order supplies.

Please plan ahead when ordering supplies. Your order will be postmarked within five business days, and it will take another two to three days for the post office to deliver your order. If you need your supplies sooner, pick up at the 701 Building (701 4th Avenue South, Suite 700, Minneapolis) is an option. Pick-up orders are ready within 2 to 3 business days.

Remember, you can find activity ideas in our environmental education toolkits and reserve environmental education learning trunks. See environmental education resources for more information.

Field trip transportation

Take an environmental education field trip with a county-provided bus service. To be eligible for the field trip, groups must have at least 25 participants age 7 and above.

Field trip destinations must be located in Hennepin County unless you’ve received special permission from the program manager. For ideas, see the list of Recommended Field Trip Locations (PDF). To ensure we can fulfill your request, please apply for field trip transportation between two to eight weeks before your field trip. Field trips must address one of the following environmental issues: reducing waste, recycling, reducing and safely disposing of hazardous waste, reducing climate change and air quality pollution, protecting land and water, understanding ecosystems.

Apply for field trip transportation.

Best practices guidelines

See our Best Practices Guide for Environmental Education Projects (PDF), developed from research and past grantees, to learn how to develop a successful program.

Green Partners meetings

Environmental education network meetings

Adapted outdoor recreation and education

  • Tuesday, February 5, 2019
  • Noon – 2:30 p.m.
  • Silverwood Park: Great Hall

Learn about how the Outdoor Recreation School of Three Rivers Park District has made programming more accessible for people with physical and cognitive disabilities. Learn about the progression of that programming and then check out a variety of their adapted equipment. Finish our time by discussing how you can adapt your own interpretive programs to be more accessible for participants with varying needs.

We will be spending time inside and outside. Please bring clothing to be comfortable!

A light lunch and snacks will be available throughout.

RSVP
Networking meetings are open to the public. Please fill out our RSVP form by January 29 to reserve your spot at the meeting. 

Future networking meetings

Networking meetings provide an opportunity to learn about environmental topics, share resources and project ideas and network with fellow environmental educators. Networking meetings are held about once a quarter. Check back for details on future meetings or sign up for the Green Partners e-newsletter to receive updates.

Information for current Branch and Root grantees

The following is important information and documents for current Green Partners Branch and Root grantees.

Reports and materials for projects starting fall 2017

Reporting documents

Surveys

Presentations and documents from orientation

Reports and materials for projects starting spring 2017

Reporting documents

Surveys

Presentations and documents from orientation

Additional information

Recently awarded grants

Hennepin County awarded grants to 14 organizations in November 2018 to engage their audiences in taking action to protect the environment. The groups will engage more than 5,400 residents in a wide variety of environmental actions, including reducing waste, recycling, composting, conserving energy, signing up for renewable energy, adopting storm drains, planting and maintaining sustainable landscapes, installing rain barrels, and learning about ecosystems.

Projects will engage residents throughout the county. Ten projects will work with underserved and hard-to-reach communities, and nine projects will engage youth.

Grants to promote environmental stewardship with youth

  • Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy will engage 200 youth from high school green teams in climate change education and environmental leadership activities.
  • East Side Neighborhood Services will engage 150 youth in Minneapolis during out-of-school programs in learning about water protection through a project called H2 Whoa! 
  • Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys will engage 200 girls in hands-on, outdoor learning through a series of "Adventure Out, Explore In" environmental stewardship events.
  • Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light (Congregations Caring for Creation) will engage 700 youth and members of faith communities in environmental education activities to encourage energy conservation and environmental stewardship.
  • North Hennepin Community College will engage 150 American Indian and Indigenous high school and college students in environmental stewardship and care for water through the Dave Larsen American Indian Immersion Experience: Nimino-bimaadiziwininaan (environmental stewardship is our way of life) and Ganawendan nibi (care for the water).
  • Partnership Academy in Richfield will engage 150 students in grades 4 through 6 in learning about environmental topics, using resources wisely, food, population growth, and pollinators. 
  • Spark Youth will engage 250 youth from Pillsbury Elementary, Northeast Middle, and Edison High Schools in Minneapolis in waste reduction and recycling.

Grants to motivating behavior change with adults and older youth

  • Clean Water Fund will engage 150 of their members and people working in downtown Minneapolis in preventing waste through their "Rethink Disposables" campaign that focuses on reducing disposable on-the-go food packaging items.
  • Cleveland Neighborhood Association will engage 150 youth and residents of the neighborhood in picking up litter, preventing waste, recycling, and cleaning up storm drains.
  • Great Plains Institute for Sustainable Development will motivate 250 St. Louis Park residents to use renewable energy in their homes by signing up for renewable energy programs, installing solar, and/or participating in solar energy programs through a youth-led solar energy outreach initiative.
  • Metro Blooms will engage more than 2,500 people in multifamily residences in Brooklyn Park and Minneapolis in learning about green landscaping techniques and participating in activities to design, practice installing, and maintain native and water friendly landscape features.
  • Minneapolis Toy Library will engage 250 parents in preventing waste by borrowing toys for home, travel, and special events and using green cleaners.
  • Northside Residents Redevelopment Council will engage 150 residents from Willard Hay and Near North neighborhoods in water protection by hosting workshops about stormwater and providing rain barrels installation support to 20 community members.
  • Tree Trust will engage more than 200 residents in learning about and taking care of trees in Hopkins, including taking steps to treat or replace ash trees threatened by emerald ash borer.

Green Partners newsletter

Green Partners is a bi-monthly e-newsletter that provides updates about resources, tools, programs, grants and events to our environmental education partners.

Latest issue

July 2018

In this issue

  • Apply now for Green Partners environmental education grants 
  • Bag something awesome: Choose to Reuse
  • Zero Waste Challenge helps participants slash their trash
  • NAAEE call for award nominations now open
  • New environmental education programs and resources
    • Follow the adventures of Recyclo at Hennepin County libraries
    • Preventing food waste events and resources
    • Resources to make your National Night Out celebration eco-friendly
  • Events and training opportunities
    • Green Partners networking meetings
    • Making Connections: Minnesota Association for Environmental Education annual conference
    • Tree stewards class
  • Green Partners GROW project highlights
     

2018

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