Upcoming Events

 

Growing Green Hearts near you…

 

January 2021

Energy & Me™ for kids!

WHEN:  Wed, January 7th, 10:00am  Virtual STEM event
WHERE:  SCSC Science & Nature Conference
WHAT:  Hey kids…How does flipping a light switch effect the air around and above us? How can energy be in our bodies, machines, and outer space?  Explore these ideas through experiments, nutrition, energetic acting, stories, and more. Presented virtual by Growing Green Hearts. Register here.

Minnesota GeoChemistry™ for kids!

WHEN:  Wednesday, January 13th, 3:00pm
WHERE:  Anoka County Library Northtown (meeting outside)
WHAT: Growing Green Hearts presents Geochemistry of Minnesota™  Seashells and volcanoes break down into some pretty cool chemistry and rock talk!   Go back in time in MN to better understand why the land here looks like it does today.  Solve a sandy mystery, get a little messy with “lava” and a bit crazy with calcium carbonate!
Registration and more information here.

Plants Are Superheroes Part 1: 

Seeds, Biodiversity & Butterflies™

WHEN:  Thurs, Jan 28, 2021 at 10:00am, Meeting Virtually ACL WebEx
WHERE:  Anoka County Library Northtown
WHAT: Young children and families join author talk by Heidi Ferris, 8 Butterfly Questions for Gardening paired with enviroSTEM seed-saving.  
Register here early to pick up a kit!

Water Builds Community with Westwood Schools

WHEN:  December through May
WHERE:  Westwood Intermediate and Middle Schools, Spring Lake Park
WHAT: In partnership with Coon Creek Watershed District, Northtown Library, and City of Blaine…Growing Green Hearts is leading teacher trainings and student enviroSTEM activities.  Student leaders are diving into biodiversity and water quality by growing, designing, voting, creating…all connected to their local library’s shoreline buffer planting in 2021.  Connect here with questions or to volunteer.

 

February 2021

For the Birds™ for kids!

WHEN:  Fri, Feb 12th, 9:30am  Virtual STEM event
WHERE:  Science Rocks! Virtual STEM Conference for students in the Central Minnesota Resource Cooperative
WHAT:  Hey kids!…Will the birds have a happy winter? Will your team of biologists, engineers, and landscape architects save the day?  Creativity and science go hand in hand as we explore bird species, wildlife art, energy and then apply the engineering design process.  Presented virtual by Growing Green Hearts. Register here.

Plants Are Superheroes Part 2: Soil & Sunshine™

WHEN:  Thurs, Feb 25, 2021 at 10:00am, Meeting Virtually ACL WebEx
WHERE:  Anoka County Library Northtown
WHAT: Young children and families join author talk by Heidi Ferris, 1-2-3 Earth, Air & Me paired with enviroSTEM challenge, learning about soil, and ethnobotany.  
Register here early to pick up a kit!

 

March 2021

 

April 2021

Plants Are Superheroes Part 3: Noticing Nature & Seasons™

WHEN:  Thurs, April 8th, 2021 at 10:00am, Meeting Virtually ACL WebEx
WHERE:  Anoka County Library Northtown
WHAT: Young children and families join author talk by Heidi Ferris, 4S’s for Noticing Nature paired with enviroSTEM garden design challenge, learning about needs of living things, and exploring ecological systems.  Register here.

 

May 2021

Exploring EnviroSTEM™ for Leaders & Teachers

WHEN:  Sat, May 8th, 2021 at 1:00-4:00pm, Meeting Outdoors
WHERE:  Blaine Wetland Sanctuary
WHAT: Join this course for leaders and teachers (ages 16+) to experience the 5E’s…engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate…all at Blaine Wetland Sanctuary.  Act out seasons, build different nests, create art connecting natural systems, investigate insulators, identify plants, and more.  Cost: $15/person.  Register with City of Blaine. 

Plants Are Superheroes Part 4: Nature Play & Plants™

WHEN:  Thurs, May 20th, 2021 at 10:00am, Meeting Outdoors
WHERE:  Anoka County Library Northtown
WHAT: Young children and families join author talk by Heidi Ferris, 7 Water Wonderings paired with the water cycle song and dance! Kids will notice nature at the library  name a variety of critters, and plant a new butterfly garden for children at the Northtown library.  Register here.

 

June 2021

Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth (aka MITY)

MITY’s  ExplorSchool provides 5th-7th grade students a unique opportunity to dive deeper into their passions at a level that is challenging and motivating.  Intellectually curious students explore hands-on interdisciplinary projects with experts while forging new friendships!  
Instructors provide students with experiences that lift learning to new levels. Info on courses and year-round programming can be found online at www.mity.org. 
Heidi Ferris of Growing Green Hearts will be leading:
  • 5th-7th graders
  • June 14th 2021 – June 25, 2021 
  • Virtual and/or Onsite at St. Paul Academy
  • EnviroSTEM Course: Outdoor Adventures in Engineering Course
  • MITY’s STEM Theater Course:  Cool Building for Climate Zombies  
  • Register at:  www.mity.org

Welcome Hike & Belly Biology at Blaine Wetland Sanctuary

WHEN:  Mon, June 28th, 2021 at 9:00am, Meeting Outdoors
WHERE:  Blaine Wetland Sanctuary
WHAT: Children and adults…What is underground and under the boardwalk will surprise you!  At Blaine Wetland Sanctuary we will explore how water, land, air, and living things interact with each other in this special place.  Throughout the nature hike participants will dazzle the senses with belly biology, systems bingo, and BWS nature trivia.  $5/child $10/family  Register with City of Blaine.

Superheroes and Systems at Blaine Wetland Sanctuary

WHEN:  Tues, June 29th, 2021 at 9:00am, Meeting Outdoors
WHERE:  Blaine Wetland Sanctuary
WHAT: All ages!  The fen at Blaine Wetland Sanctuary is a water superhero!  Hike the boardwalk with a guide to learn the story:  How does the fen battle the water pollutant villains? Which plants are signs of a healthy ecosystem?  Where is there evidence of change at the fen?  Explore interconnectedness through activities:  core sampling, water quality testing, insect ID, and more.  Wear your superhero gear!  $5/child $10/family  Register with City of Blaine.
 

July 2021

 

August 2021

Author & Art at Blaine Wetland Sanctuary

WHEN:  Mon, Aug 2nd, 2021 at 9:00-11:00am, Outdoor Open House
WHERE:  Blaine Wetland Sanctuary
WHAT: All ages! Open house style.  Author of “1-2-3 Earth Air Me,” Heidi Ferris will great visitors along the boardwalk for story time, water painting, nature sculptures, and wetland art in action!

Boardwalk & Books at Blaine Wetland Sanctuary

WHEN:  Tues, Aug 3rd, 2021 at 9:00-11:00am, Outdoor Open House
WHERE:  Blaine Wetland Sanctuary
WHAT:   Participants can create nature journals together, try making paper from fibers, practice using their senses then record their findings and meet local author of “4 S’s for Noticing Nature,” Heidi Ferris.  All ages! Open house style.

Connecting with Critters at Blaine Wetland Sanctuary

WHEN:  Wed, Aug 4th, 2021 at 9:00-11:00am, Outdoor Open House
WHERE:  Blaine Wetland Sanctuary
WHAT:  All ages! Open house style.  Wonder, dance, sing, and create with water along the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary Boardwalk during this open house time for all ages.  Author Heidi Ferris will use the book “7 Water Wonderings” to guide guests in building a watershed and investigating macro invertebrates for water quality.
Participants can create nature journals together, try making paper from fibers, practice using their senses then record their findings and meet local author of “4 S’s for Noticing Nature,” Heidi Ferris.  

Superheroes and Systems at Blaine Wetland Sanctuary

WHEN:  Thurs, Aug 5th, 2021 at 9:00-10:00am, Meeting Outdoors
WHERE:  Blaine Wetland Sanctuary
WHAT: All ages!  The fen at Blaine Wetland Sanctuary is a water superhero!  Hike the boardwalk with a guide to learn the story:  How does the fen battle the water pollutant villains? Which plants are signs of a healthy ecosystem?  Where is there evidence of change at the fen?  Explore interconnectedness through activities:  core sampling, water quality testing, insect ID, and more.  Wear your superhero gear!  $5/child $10/family  Register with City of Blaine.

 

ONGOING PARTNERSHIPS with Growing Green Hearts…

Blaine Wetland Sanctuary

Intergenerational Tours and Programming by Growing Green Hearts at Blaine Wetland Sanctuary.  Free environmental STEM curriculum, maps, and other Blaine Wetland Sanctuary resources can be found here. Learn more about the unique habitats, rare plants, and interconnected systems by checking out the blog.

Watershed Districts

Water builds community and Growing Green Hearts works with a variety of partners to do just that. Water partnership projects include natural playground design, water-focused teacher trainings, native plantings for shorelines, rain garden, water enviroSTEM workshops for leaders, and the curriculum Connect-the-Drops: Faith, Science & Youth Leadership curriculum by Heidi Ferris.  Watershed partnerships include: Capitol Region Watershed District, Coon Creek Watershed District, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, Rice Creek Watershed District, Vadnais Lake Area Watershed and more.  

Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth

As an environmental STEM specialist and curriculum creator, Heidi Ferris leads students in hands on learning with the Minnesota Institute for Talented Youth.  Programs is for elementary, middles school, and high school.  Heidi has been teaching for MITY since 2015.

Faith-Based Groups

Since 2012, Growing Green Hearts has partnered with 40+ faith-based groups in exploring climate justice, water quality, land acknowledgement, sense-of-place, and student leadership.  Learn more from stories here:  

———————————–

   

Play while problem solving! 

Growing Green Hearts offers…

  • Outdoor Science Classes with Growing Green Hearts…specially designed for your COVID learning group.  Heidi Ferris leads 60-90 minutes classes and hands-on enviroSTEM activities for your local park, school, or outdoor space.  Questions?  Contact here.
  • Plants as Superheroes:  Kids Leading with Seeds, Plants & Nature Play” is a 4-part package of site visits blending author visits, hands-on environmental STEM, and service learning catered to your site.
  • Teacher Trainings with Growing Green Hearts are geared towards educators of elementary students and early learners, no matter what your science background.  Growing Green Hearts has served 9 school districts and many private schools throughout Minnesota.  Teacher trainings with Growing Green Hearts have received MN Center for Professional Development/Parent Aware approval.
  • Site Visits and Events with Growing Green Hearts means hands-on fun, author talks, and nature adventures through environmental STEM learning.  Connect kids with their local environment with site visits to classrooms, library programs, scout meetings, child care centers, and large group events.
  • Curriculum Development with Growing Green Hearts brings interconnected land, air, water, and living things into the hands of the learner.  Specializing in environmental STEM experiences, GGH creatively pulls together your site’s natural resources and needs with state and national standards.
  • Natural Playground Coaching with GGH builds community and grows exciting science programs based on student interests, power of play, creativity, and the processes of environmental Science Technology Engineering and Math (eSTEM).

QUESTIONS? Contact Growing Green Hearts

——————————–