February 18th

By Mutt Mulligan

Check out the new TurfMutt.com

Have you seen the new TurfMutt website? Check it out to see why learning how to take care of the planet and studying science just got more fun.

TurfMutt is an environmental stewardship program that partners with Scholastic – the global children’s publishing, education and media company – to help kids in grades K to 5 learn about science and the environment from the perspective of the backyard, community and personal green spaces they enjoy every day. The program also provides students with an understanding of how these green spaces benefit the environment when cared for in a sustainable way.

The new site features the annual “Be a Backyard Superhero” contest, which awards a $5,000 grant to improve two winning schools’ green spaces. There are also new in-classroom materials for grades K to 5, including:

• New digital storybook titled “The West Coast Mission”
• Online climate change game
• Lesson plans for teachers
• Activity guides for kids and parents to do together

According to TurfMutt’s owner, Kris Kiser, who is also the president and CTO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, these materials are an interactive way to engage kids in their environment.

“With drought ransacking the West and many other parts of the country, understanding how to care for green spaces is more important than ever,” said Kris. “The new digital storybook and climate change game help children understand the importance of taking care of these living landscapes and what they contribute to our communities.”

To learn more about how to protect your living landscapes even during a drought, click here.