environment

Author

JESSIE HOULIHAN

Do It Green! Minnesota

Each year development continues to encroach upon open spaces in Minnesota. Regardless of where you live, you can probably think of a development nearby that was constructed on land that was degraded by the construction, such as wetlands or special animal habitat. In order to build, the developer must submit documentation of the plan and, if necessary, conduct an environmental assessment that must be approved before construction.

Footnotes/Endnotes

ON THE WEB!

Citizen Petition Process,
www.eqb.state.mn.us
/documents/PetitionProcess.pdf

EAW Guidelines,
www.mnplan.state.mn.us
/pdf/2000/eqb/eawrules.pdf

Environmental Impact Statements and Environmental Assessment Worksheets,
www.pca.state.mn.us/news/eaw

Author

FELICIA PARSONS

Do It Green! Minnesota

Climate cafés are a relatively new offshoot of the café discussion movement, which takes its inspiration from philosophical discussion groups tracing their ancestry as far back as Plato and Socrates. Recognizing that it is too easy for people to become disconnected from their community-particularly if their neighbors hold conflicting opinions on important issues-discussion cafés offer a venue for respectful public conversation on the challenging subjects facing us every day.

Footnotes/Endnotes

ON THE WEB!

Do It Green! Minnesota Eco Party Kit Downloads,
doitgreen.org/ecoparty

Climate Café,
climatecafes.ca

Conversation Café,
conversationcafe.org
/About Conversation Cafes.htm

World Café-Tips for Hosting a Global Warming Café,
conversationsthatmatter.typepad.com/climatechange/basics.html

READ UP!

The World Café: Shaping Our Futures Through Conversations That Matter, by Juanita Brown, David Isaacs, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2005.

Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future, by Margaret J. Wheatley, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2002.

Author

Roots and Shoots Program Founder at St. Paul Central

Sarah Waddle's eighth grade teacher inspired her to learn about Jane Goodall and her organization, Roots and Shoots. Sarah founded a Roots and Shoots group at St Paul's Central High School in her sophomore year.

One of Sarah's dream projects for the group is to install a green roof at St. Paul Central. Her Roots and Shoots club is fortunate enough to have Macalester College nearby and was able to meet with students and tour their green roof.

Footnotes/Endnotes

Resources:

Roots & Shoots, rootsandshoots.org

To plan her event, Sarah found contact information for green businesses from Do It Green! Magazine (doitgreen.org) and Blue Sky Guide (ecometro.com)

Author

Environmental Political Forum

Emma, driven to initiate environmental change, directed the energy she formerly expended on the soccer field to being a founding member of YEA (Youth Environmental Activists of) Minnesota, speaking at the Neighborhood Sustainability Conference and helping Will Steger at his Focus the Nation event at First Avenue. She also chose to put on an Environmental Political Forum for her senior project.

Emma brought together legislators representing Eagan, Apple Valley, and Rosemount with local high school students to allow the students to

Author

SUE ROEGGE

Like many people, I was deeply affected by the movie An Inconvenient Truth in the summer of 2006. I "greened" my family's life and was honored to be accepted as a volunteer public speaker. Through the Climate Project, I was trained by Al Gore and his scientific advisors for my mission: to present and discuss climate change in my own community.

I'm a social studies teacher and a parent of two high school students, so I primarily addressed school groups. I'm proud of the fact that I spoke to over 40 groups in the spring of 2007, but what I've found most

Author

SUE ROEGGE

So, you've got a few students who want to start an environmental club? Great! Here are some tips on how to get a club started and how to keep it going strong.

Focus on your core group of people who show up. Oftentimes, their excitement for the group will naturally recruit others to join in.

Outreach = participation, get the word out!  Parents teacher conferences; all-school announcements; school newsletter, newspaper or website; posters; facebook; email lists, etc.

Author

SUE ROEGGE

The Minnesota Energy Challenge

Can be used by club members or friendly competitions between classes, sports teams, etc.:
mnenergychallenge.org, 612-335-5852

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Global Warming projects

Project ideas and lesson plans:
willstegerfoundation.org
612-278-7147

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Recycling

Author

COLLETTE MORGAN

Wild Rumpus Books

The key to getting young people fired up about environmentalism is to present them with a balance of information and plausible solutions. This fresh crop of books is intended to give kids clear and achievable ways to contribute to saving the world.

 

Eco Babies Wear Green by Michelle Sinclair Colman, illustrated by Nathalie Dion, shows savvy newborns composting their cheerios, running on solar energy, and carpooling on the back of mama's bike. A witty primer for the very youngest eco-warriors.

Footnotes/Endnotes

Act Locally!

Wild Rumpus Books
Minneapolis, MN, 612-920-5005
wildrumpusbooks.com

Author

SARA GROCHOWSKI

Do It Green! Minnesota

Growing up, my birthdays consisted of parents, grandparents, godparents, a cake, candles, and, since it was summer, endless games of kick the can, ghost in the graveyard, and flashlight tag. Nowadays, it seems kids have multiple parties with family, friends, and neighbors and the gifts and waste grow with each event. As important as it is to honor your child's emergence into the world, it is just as fun to plan for parties that have less waste and may even give back to the environment or community, thus helping create a cleaner future for birthdays to come.

Footnotes/Endnotes

ON THE WEB!

World Wildlife Adopt an Animal, worldwildlife.org

Oxfam,
oxfamamericaunwrapped.com

Author

JESSIE HOULIHAN

Do It Green! Minnesota

For years now, issues about the environment have remained an important topic in society. As scientists continue to learn more about the world around us and the impacts of our choices, there is an abounding amount of new information to be absorbed. From water and soil issues to recycling and pollution, the plethora of data to keep up with can be overwhelming. Do It Green! Magazine disseminates environmental information and adapts it into digestible articles. This Environment section focuses on the scientific aspects of green living.