Carver County Environmental Services, in partnership with the City of Chanhassen, is excited to announce the return of the Environmental Academy in 2025!

This free event series is designed for residents who want to dive deeper into local environmental topics. Participants will hear from industry experts and take behind-the-scenes tours of local facilities.

Who Can Participate?

• Anyone who lives or works in Carver County
• Participants under 18 if accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• Registration is required

Follow The City of Chanhassen and RecycleCarver on FB or visit the links below to sign up for updates and be the first to know when registration opens!

Learn More:
City of Chanhassen Environmental Academy page: chanhassenmn.gov/environmental-academy

Questions?
Chanhassen residents contact:
Jamie Marsh – (952) 227-1138 | jmarsh@chanhassenmn.gov

Other Carver County residents contact:
Dustin Heidinger – (952) 361-1836 | dheidinger@carvercountymn.gov

Sign up to receive updates about future events

2025 Events

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Plant Rescue Presentation

Thursday, August 28, 6:00pm-7:00pm
University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Dr, Chaska, MN 55318

Discover the Arboretum’s efforts to protect Minnesota’s rare and endangered plants. Led by David Remucal, Ph.D., Dolores E. Isaacson Curator of Endangered Plants, this presentation highlights key species, conservation methods, and habitat restoration goals. Learn about the challenges of conserving native orchids and the innovative techniques used in propagation, seed storage, and restoration.

Sponsored by the City of Chanhassen and Carver County Environmental Services and hosted by the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

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Big Woods Hike

Thursday, September 11, 6:00pm–7:00pm
Camp Fire Minnesota
3300 Tanadoona Dr, Excelsior, MN 55331

Join Camp Fire Minnesota’s expert Naturalists for a guided walk through the Big Woods. This all-ages hike explores the site’s history, wildlife, and plant species, offering a deeper understanding of the land and its ecological significance.

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Understanding the Recycling Process

Thursday, September 18, 6:00pm–7:30pm
Chanhassen City Hall - Lake Susan Conference Room
7700 Market Blvd, Chanhassen, MN 55317

 

Learn what happens to recyclables collected in the Twin Cities Metro and get clear guidance on what should—and shouldn’t—go in your curbside bin. This session provides an in-depth look at the recycling process and offers practical tips to make sure your efforts count, with plenty of time for all the recycling questions you can think of.

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Organics Recycling & Facility Tour

Thursday, October 2, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Dakota Prairie Composting
12386 Chestnut Blvd, Shakopee, MN 55379

Discover the growing role organics recycling plays in reducing waste and protecting the environment. This session takes you inside Dakota Prairie Composting, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s new state-of-the-art organics recycling facility. The event includes a guided tour where you’ll see how food scraps and yard waste are transformed into nutrient-rich compost using advanced aerated static pile technology.

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Waste: Reduction, Reuse, and Repair

 

Thursday, October 16, 6:00pm–7:30pm
Chanhassen Library – Wilder Room
7711 Kerber Blvd, Chanhassen MN 55317

Explore practical ways to lessen environmental impact by rethinking how we handle waste. This session features presentations on Reuse Minnesota, local Fix-It Clinics, and Carver County’s new partnership with Reclaim It, a partnership between Waconia-based thrift store Home Again Furnishings and building material reuse site operated by Nordic Waste in Norwood Young America that helps keep valuable materials out of the landfill. You’ll also learn about deconstruction initiatives in Carver County and other strategies to extend the life of materials through repair and reuse.

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Turning Wood Waste into Biochar

Thursday, October 23, 6:00pm–7:30pm
Chanhassen Library – Wilder Room
7711 Kerber Blvd, Chanhassen MN 55317

Great River Greening shares how biochar offers a sustainable solution for managing wood waste. Learn how this innovative approach is being applied as part of a multi-year buckthorn control project at Lake Ann Preserve. The session covers the science of biochar production, its environmental benefits, and how it can enhance soil health while reducing waste.