By Shelli-Kae Foster, Program Director YES! co-presented with Rivers Edge Academy and Edison High School for the session “Getting to Green in MN” at the 9th Annual National Green Schools conference on April 8. The session portrayed 3 replicable programs to engage students and staff with hands-on place- based sustainability models. Here are a few highlights: Rivers Edge Academy is a
Events
Healthy Soil=Healthy Lives
By Sophie Bishop Healthy soil is the foundation for a healthy life. It’s where our roots begin to strengthen our bond to nature. Sadly, with poor land usage, our top soil is eroding away and becoming less viable for plants and microorganisms. On March 20, 2019 the New Prague YES! team and the Sleepy Eye YES! team attended an event at Gustavus Adolphus College (GAC) to learn about soil health
“Sustainable Architecture and Renewable Energy” Winter Workshop
By Sophie Bishop Creating a building that is sustainable and energy efficient is a challenge for the next generations. We need to think of the future with climate change and how we can cut down on greenhouse gas output and costs. Kitty Stratton, Super Energy Efficient Design Consultant, and Gary Schollmeier, a renewable energy expert, came to Westbrook-Walnut Grove (WWG) on March 5th and 6th to
“Rain Gardens and Native Plants–Part 2” Winter Workshop
By Shelli-Kae Foster Robin Trott, University of Minnesota Extension Educator/Douglas County began Part 2 of the Rain Garden workshop mini-series by asking a group of 6 YES! students “Why do you want to build a rain garden?” One student replied, “To make our school look better,” while another added, “To filter the rain water.” Robin jumped right in and explained to the students that they must
“Go Native to Improve Water Quality” Winter Workshop
By Shelli-Kae Foster Rain gardens, water quality, climate change and what we can do to improve our water were all topics of discussion for the 11 YES! students who attended the YES! Winter Workshop at Northland Arboretum on March 5, 2019. Coralee Fox, University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener in Crow Wing County, kicked off the day. She provided an in-depth look at what a rain garden is
“Duluth Energy” Winter Workshop
By Sam Horner This year, the Carlton YES! team wanted to do a Winter Workshop centered around energy and that is exactly the day that was planned for the team. Stops for the day included the Duluth Steam Plant and the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, which gave the team insight into how energy is being used and generated in one of Minnesota’s most populated cities. The Duluth Steam