Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Mike Kennedy, (218) 529-6258 Toll-free, voice and TDD: (800) 657-3864 Duluth, Minn. - In late August, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will conduct six public input meetings to update its state environmental education plan, A GreenPrint for Minnesota, 3rd Edition. The resulting document will be published in September 2007. Educators at nature centers, schools, environmental learning centers, science museums and local and tribal governments use the GreenPrint to prioritize statewide environmental education goals and offer strategies to achieve them. "Minnesota's environmental education community has a long history of collaboration and leadership. That's why as many as 500 educators will likely attend these meetings and share their insights and suggestions," said Mike Kennedy, MPCA Education Specialist and Project Manager. Attendees will have an opportunity to offer their vision of future environmental education needs and desired outcomes, specifically address educational aspects related to one or more of the GreenPrint's 12 audience sectors, and, to focus on the plan's usability. Meetings will be held:
· Monday, Aug. 21 - Fergus Falls, Prairie Wetlands Learning Center, 3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
· Tuesday, Aug. 22 - Brainerd, MPCA office, 3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
· Wednesday, Aug. 23 - Duluth MPCA office, 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
· Monday, Aug. 28 - Redwood Falls Community Center, 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
· Tuesday, Aug. 29 - Rochester MPCA Office, 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
· Wednesday, Aug. 30 - Twin Cities metro area, Dakota Lodge, Thompson Park Center, 1:00 p.m - 3:30 p.m.
Pre-registration online is encouraged at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=774542394491. The meetings will be hosted and conducted by the University of Minnesota Extension's Civic and Leadership staff and MPCA staff. Results from follow-up surveys will be available later this fall on the MPCA's environmental education resource Web site http://www.mnseek.net. For more information about the plan or revision process, please contact Mike Kennedy at (218) 529-6258, (800) 657-3864 or mike.kennedy@pca.state.mn.us. The GreenPrint 2nd Edition, published in 2000, is available at http://www.seek.state.mn.us/eemn_d.cfm.