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Green Partners Environmental Education Program
Educate, engage, act and collaborate for the environment
www.hennepin.us/greenpartners
Seed Group Action Plan
About the Green Partners Program
Hennepin County Environmental Services works to protect the environment and conserve
natural resources for future generations. But we can’t do it alone! Through Green Partners,
Hennepin County supports organizations to actively educate and empower residents to make
positive environmental changes in their daily lives by…
 Inspiring individuals in their communities to reduce waste, recycle, reduce toxicity, conserve
energy and/or protect water resources;
 Collaborating with Hennepin County and peer organizations on environmental education;
 Connecting with free environmental resources, trainings and networking opportunities offered
by Hennepin County; and
 Engaging in a group – Seed, Root, or Branch—that best supports their organization
About the Seed Group
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.
Seed Group participants will receive free activity supplies and bus transportation for an
environmental education fieldtrip. In addition, Seed groups have access to the following free
environmental education resources:
 Hennepin County Environmental Education Toolkits
 Learning trunks
 On-site trainings
 Presentations or tabling at events
 Environmental Education Literature
Find out more about these resources at www.hennepin.us/environmentaleducation.
Environmental Education Toolkits
The Environmental Education Toolkits provide background information on environmental topics
and hands-on activities to engage audiences in environmental education.
Example activities from the toolkits include:
 Host an eco-fashion show
 Stencil storm drains
 Build a compost bin or rain barrel
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Make non-toxic cleaner
Develop skits and/or a video with youth to educate community members
Create art projects with reused materials
Play a recycling sorting game
Have questions or need technical assistance?
Contact the program manager for assistance including feedback on ideas, suggestions for
activities, help with the action plan or general questions and concerns.
Contact Mary Karius at mary.karius@hennepin.us or 612-596-9129.
About Hennepin County Environmental Services
Hennepin County works with community partners to promote environmental stewardship.
Hennepin County Environmental Services’ mission is to protect the environment and conserve
resources for future generations. www.hennepin.us/environmentaleducation
Seed Group guidelines
ELIGIBILITY
 Registered nonprofit organizations such as community groups, youth
programs, congregations, etc.
 Park districts
 Private and public schools and school districts, including community
education programs like ECFE.
 All groups must serve Hennepin County residents.
AWARD AMOUNT
 Activity supplies like reusable tote bags and non-toxic cleaner spray
bottles.
 Transportation for an environmental education field trip with a bus
charter service (Must have 25 or more people ages 7 and above to be
eligible for field trip transportation).
TIMELINE
 Apply anytime by submitting the Seed Action Plan (page 3)
 Partnerships are ongoing, but a one-year timeline is suggested for
projects.
 Seed groups are encouraged to form an active relationship with the
county and sustain environmental activities.
MEETINGS
 Optional quarterly networking meetings on environmental education
topics in June, September, and November 2012, and January 2013.
REPORTING AND
EVALUATION
 Report number of program participants.
 Report total number of people reached with environmental messages.
Find more award information, the updated timeline, and more helpful information online at
www.hennepin.us/greenpartners.
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Seed Group Application
In one to two pages, please respond to the following questions. Please email the action plan to
Mary Karius at mary.karius@hennepin.us.
1. Contact Information
Primary project coordinator’s
 Name:
 Title/Role:
 Phone number:
 Email address:
2. Organization Information
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Organization name:
Address:
Phone number:
Website (if applicable):
 Describe your organization’s mission (one to two sentences):
 Describe the people your organization serves:
 How is your organization structured to implement environmental action projects?
(For example, is there an environmental group or Green Team that will carry-out
projects?)
3. Participant information
 How many people overall do you expect to reach with environmental messages?
 Who is your audience and how will your projects affect them?
 How will you make an effort to be inclusive and reach people who do not typically hear
environmental messages?
4. Project information
Identify at least two environmental action projects that your group will complete. (Note:
You are encouraged to use the Environmental Education Toolkits for ideas. To view the
Toolkits, visit www.hennepin.us/GreenPartners.)
For each project, please complete the following:
 Identify which topic(s) your project will focus on. (Must choose one or more of the
following topics: Waste Reduction; Recycling; Toxicity Reduction; Energy
Conservation; Water Protection)
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 Describe the activity:
 Major tasks involved:
 Goals and desired outcomes. How will you measure these outcomes?
 Number and ages of project participants:
 Brief project timeline (one-year timeline is suggested but not mandatory):
5. Field Trip
Do you plan to take an environmental education field trip using county-provided bus
transportation? If so, please explain:
 Where are you going:
 How many people will be attending and their ages: (Must be at least 25 people ages 7
and above.)
 How the field trip relates to your project goals:
For a list of recommended field trip destinations, visit www.hennepin.us/greenpartners.
Destinations must be located in Hennepin County unless you have discussed and
received approval about another option from the program manager.
6. Supplies Order
The supplies can be used in activities or as incentives that motivate environmental action.
To review the activity supplies and place an order, fill out the order form available at
www.hennepin.us/greenparters and submit it with your completed Action Plan to Mary
Karius at mary.karius@hennepin.us.
Available supplies include:
 Spray Bottles for non-toxic household cleaner (recipe printed on the bottle in both
English and Spanish)
 Green reusable bags with stuff sack
 White reusable linen bags (can be decorated)
6. Project sustainability
How will you continue inspiring your community to take environmental action after your
activities have ended?
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