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News and Resources - May 2020
News and Resources - May 2020
Thank you: 50x50 Participation Drive Success!
Thank you: 50x50 Participation Drive Success!
By April 22, 2020, the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and the target date for our participation drive, 64 schools, districts, or resource organizations expressed interest in our interest survey!
Despite the disruption of Covid-19, by Earth Day 2020 we still managed to get contacts from 37 school districts or schools to express their interest in the program, as well as 27 resource organizations. It is clear that there is interest in this program. Since April 22, 8 more have signed up for a total of 72 interested schools, districts, or resource organizations.
Most recent locations not yet shown.
Interest from Contacts at:
MN School Districts:La Crescent-Hokah (ISD 300)Minneapolis Public Schools (ISD 1)Pequot Lakes Public Schools (ISD 186)Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools (ISD 719)Royalton School District (ISD 485)Saint Paul Public Schools (ISD 625)Spring Lake Park Schools (ISD 16)Stillwater Area Public School District (ISD 834)Wayzata Public School District (ISD 284)West St. Paul-Mendota Hts.-Eagan (ISD 197)Wrenshall Public School District (ISD 100)Yellow Medicine East (ISD 2190)MN Schools:Andover High SchoolBellaire Education CenterCarlton High SchoolCity of Lakes Waldorf SchoolDiscovery Woods MontessoriForest Lake Area High SchoolGarlough Environmental Magnet SchoolHarbor City International SchoolHeritage E-Stem Magnet SchoolHiawatha Collegiate High SchoolHidden Oaks Middle School Hilltop Primary School La Crescent-Hokah Secondary SchoolLyndale Community School PTOMendota Elementary SchoolMoreland Arts and Health Sciences Magnet ElementaryNorthern Lights Community SchoolPike Lake ElementaryPine Bend ElementaryPrairie Seeds AcademyRockford Middle School-Center for Environmental StudiesSartell Middle SchoolShakopee West Middle SchoolSt Paul Conservatory for Performing ArtistsSt. Stephens Catholic SchoolSomerset Elementary SchoolWestbrook-Walnut Grove SecondaryWilliam M. Kelley SchoolWrenshall High School
Interest from Contacts at Resource Organizations Including Cities:
Anoka County Recycling and Resource SolutionsCity of EdinaCity of Elk RiverCity of Falcon HeightsCity of FridleyCity of Golden ValleyCity of HutchinsonCity of MoorheadCity of WarrenClimate Generation: A Will Steger LegacyE.C. Goodwin Technical HS (Connecticut)Environmental Quality BoardGreen Ribbon Schools Award - MN Dept. of EducationGreenStep Cities @ the MN Pollution Control AgencyGrowing Green Hearts LLCHennepin County Environment & EnergyJeffers Foundation Jessy Carlson (consultant)Macalester CollegeMcKinstryMinnesota Association for Environmental EducationMinnesota Department of HealthMinnesota DNRMN350.orgSWWC Service CooperativeThe Weidt GroupU.S. Green Building CouncilYES! (Youth Eco Solutions)
Resources from New Member Resource Organizations
Resources from New Member Resource Organizations
Want to become a member of MN GreenStep Schools as a Resource Organization? >Learn More
Green Schoolyards and the Trust for Public Land
Green Schoolyards and the Trust for Public Land
We welcome The The Trust for Public Land as a new MN GreenStep Schools Resource Organization Member!
We welcome The The Trust for Public Land as a new MN GreenStep Schools Resource Organization Member!
In the new Trust for Public Land profile page, Eric Weiss of the Minnesota branch of TPL, shares that "TPL is launching its Green Schoolyards program in Minnesota and is able to support schools with community engagement and participatory design, strategy and planning, budgeting and fundraising, design, curriculum and programming. We are also able to support communities in park development, conservation finance, data analysis, and advocacy."
On the TPL green schoolyards web page, they describe the long history and benefits of their national green schoolyards work. They also summarize their guiding principles which emphasize community involvement, shared use, and quality green space.
Green Schoolyards cross all three of the MN GreenStep School outcome areas. They can improve environmental impact with storm-water management and habitat provision, improve health through access to nature, and outdoor activities, and improve environmental education through hands-on and outdoor learning.
MN GreenStep Schools expressed support for an LCCMR proposal led by the The Trust for Public Land called “Minnesota Green Schoolyards.” The proposal summary: “Minnesota Green Schoolyards pilot project will assess, promote, and demonstrate how schoolyards can improve water, air, and habitat quality, foster next generation stewards, while improving health, education, and community outcomes.” Partners or supporters of the proposal included MN DNR, MN Dept of Ed, YES!, MN Dept of Health, and the Children and Nature Network. While LCCMR proposals are set aside for the time being, it may be funded in the future, and productive connections have been made to foster increased collaboration between TPL and the MN GreenStep Schools program.
Clean Energy Resource Teams and Energy Resources for Schools
Clean Energy Resource Teams and Energy Resources for Schools
We welcome Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTS) as a recent MN GreenStep Schools Resource Organization Member!
We welcome Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTS) as a recent MN GreenStep Schools Resource Organization Member!
Certs has been supporting schools with energy-related resources for many years in addition to the many other sectors they serve. Peter Lindstrom says on the CERTS MN GreenStep Schools profile page that, "CERTs has been working with schools across the state to make solar a reality for years, and in the process, has developed unbiased tools and resources for other schools to utilize free of charge. Tools for site selection, requests for proposals, State contracts, calculators, as well as connections to curriculum and more are online and ready to use."
In addition to their Solar on Schools work, you can check out other resources on their web page including in topics of Biomass, Electric Vehicles, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage, Geothermal, Grants & Financing, and Wind Energy.
Check out their events page for opportunities like this one on Electrifying School Buses with four speakers.
Webinar: Electric Transportation for All June 9, 2020 | 10-11am
Webinar: Electric Transportation for All June 9, 2020 | 10-11am
"The benefits of electric school buses go beyond clean transportation. They are cleaner, quieter, less costly to operate, plus the air inside and outside the bus cabin is healthier for students. Funding sources for electric school buses are becoming readily available to school districts. Utilities and states have begun offering initiatives to fund the transition to electric buses.
Join Forth for a discussion on current electric school bus models and considerations for school districts interested in making the switch to electric buses."
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