We closed out another successful year of Conservation Crew across Minnesota, with more than 500 students finding new and creative ways to protect the Great Outdoors. Now, for the first time ever, some Conservation Crews are extending into the summer season. Looking ahead to the 2025–26 school year, we are excited to announce we will have a new record of more than 50 Conservation Crews across the state.
Conservation Minnesota partners with GreenStep Cities & Tribal Nations to bring together volunteers from across the state who serve on city environment, sustainability, natural resource, and parks & recreation advisory commissions. This spring, we toured Seidl’s Lake Park in Inver Grove Heights to learn more about the restoration work and unique partnerships that have turned the park into something special.
Time spent in the Great Outdoors offers powerful mental and physical health benefits—and the impact is broad. Studies show that for people of all ages everywhere, across demographics and circumstance, nature provides measurable and substantial positive impacts. Minnesotans have good reason to love our Great Outdoors—it protects us. In turn, we work to protect it.
For the past three years, Conservation Minnesota hosted AmeriCorps members—we call them our Community Stewards—throughout the state. Their work has had a powerful and far-reaching impact. Unfortunately, due to changes in federal priorities, this program will end in July.
Each year, Conservation Minnesota presents local governments with the Blazing Star Award, which celebrates Minnesota communities that have led projects that feature innovation, create a sense of belonging, leverage unique partnerships, and have deep beneficial environmental impacts. Learn about the 2025 winners!
Conservation Crew is our student-led extracurricular school program for middle schoolers. Rooted in service learning, students develop leadership skills by designing and implementing conservation projects to impact their schools and communities.
