Center for Global Environmental Education, Hamline University

09/30/2026

🌧️ Minnesota’s been getting some rain — and that means it’s time to check your storm drain!
A clogged drain 🚫 can’t do its job.

A clean drain? 💧 Let the water flow.

The best time to clear your drain is before and after a rain event. 🍂

Before: clear away leaves and debris so rainwater has a clear path.

After: check again for anything the rain may have washed onto your drain.

Just a few minutes can help keep water moving, reduce localized flooding, and keep pollution out of our lakes, rivers, and streams.

Want to help year-round? Adopt a storm drain in your neighborhood — and give it a name! 👇

🔗 adopt-a-drain.org

09/25/2026

There are lots of ways to help keep our water clean!
Stormwater picks up what’s left on the ground and carries it toward our waterways. The good news? Small actions around your home and neighborhood can make a difference.

Here are a few ways you can help:
✅ Adopt a storm drain and keep it clear of leaves and debris
🐾 Pick up after your pets
🌱 Plant native plants and consider adding a rain garden
💧 Use a rain barrel to capture rainwater and water your garden
🪣 Properly dispose of paint, oil, chemicals, and other waste
🍂 Keep leaves and grass clippings out of the street
🌿 Use fertilizer thoughtfully and only when needed
Every action helps reduce stormwater pollution and protect the lakes, rivers, and wetlands we all depend on. 🌊

🔗 Learn more and find ways to get involved: adopt-a-drain.org and stormwaterawareness.org
Clean water starts with what we do in our own communities.

09/24/2026

It’s Stormwater Awareness Week! 🌧️
Ever wonder where the rain goes after it hits the ground?
When rainwater runs across streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and driveways, it can pick up trash, oil, leaves, and other pollutants. That runoff can eventually make its way into our lakes, rivers, and wetlands — affecting water quality, wildlife, and the places we all enjoy.
Understanding stormwater is the first step toward protecting our water. 💧
Stay tuned this week for simple ways you can help keep stormwater clean — right in your own neighborhood.

09/14/2026

A banner day: CGEE's latest public TV documentary, Estuaries in the Balance, has been nominated for an Upper Midwest Emmy Award! You can watch it on the CGEE Vimeo channel (https://vimeo.com/1193976427/bfbf82af50?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci), or via Minnesota PBS broadcasts.

08/04/2026

Not everyone adopts a storm drain for the same reason—and that's what makes our community so powerful. 💙💧

👨‍👩‍👧 For the next generation. Michelle adopts drains with her family to teach their children how everyday actions help protect clean water, creating habits that can last a lifetime.
🌿 For well-being. Christine checks her drain as part of her regular walks, turning a simple neighborhood stroll into an opportunity to care for the places she loves.
🚣 For adventure. Dustin adopted 10 storm drains to help protect the Mississippi and Rum Rivers he loves to paddle.

No matter your reason, every clear storm drain helps keep leaves, litter, and pollution out of our lakes, rivers, and streams.
What's your reason to adopt a drain? 🌊

Join more than 16,900 Minnesotans who have adopted a drain and are making a difference—one drain at a time.
👉 mn.adopt-a-drain.org

08/01/2026

The primetime debut of ESTUARIES IN THE BALANCE: FRESHWATER NURSERIES OF LAKE SUPERIOR on Twin Cities PBS is happening August 12 at 8:30 p.m.

The film documents two iconic Great Lakes estuaries—ecologically critical coastal wetlands were river- and lake-water mix. The Bad River Sloughs are celebrated internationally as pristine, have the largest wild rice beds in the Great Lakes, and have been sustained through time by the Bad River Band of Ojibwe. The St. Louis River estuary, an international port that is recovering from decades of industrial pollution, is the heart of the Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe’s traditional homeland. Both estuaries face an uncertain future.

It's great to have two years of work finally coming to fruition! Producer John Shepard will be in the studio talking-story about the hour-long film during pledge breaks. If you miss it, here's a link to the film on our Vimeo channel:

Estuaries in the Balance: Freshwater Nurseries of Lake Superior explores the history and prospects of two iconic Great Lakes estuaries—ecologically critical shoreline environments where river waters mix with those of a lake or the ocean. The St. Louis River Estuary, the largest freshwater estuary ...

07/27/2026

What exactly is a the water cycle?

In Rose and the Great River Rescue, young readers don't just go on an adventure, they learn the real science behind our local environments! It is a fantastic way to introduce concepts like "ecosystems," "stormwater," and "conservation" in a way that is easy for kids to understand and visualize.

Help build their environmental vocabulary today!

Read for free: cgee-hamline.org/RoseAndGreatRiverRescue/

07/24/2026

Looking for the perfect summer storytime activity?

Rose and the Great River Rescue is completely free and ready to read wherever you are this weekend, whether you are hanging out in the backyard, cooling off inside, or actually sitting by the river!

Dive into a great summer reading adventure that teaches young learners why our water matters.

Start reading here: cgee-hamline.org/RoseAndGreatRiverRescue/

07/24/2026

Day 3 of MRI gave our educators a comprehensive look at our Mississippi. We spent a morning down by Hidden Falls, dove into some of our favorite books about the watershed in the shade, and finished with a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the local wastewater treatment plant.

07/23/2026

Teachers at the Mississippi River Institute took their training outdoors for Day 2!

We headed down to Minnehaha Creek to search for macroinvertebrates and learn all about water quality. There is no better way to understand an ecosystem than by getting right into the middle of it.