Staff \u2014 February 18, 2016
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\nTurfMutt has announced its annual \u201cBe a Backyard Superhero\u201d contest, which awards a $5,000 grant to improve two winning schools\u2019 green spaces, and the addition of new in-classroom materials for grades K to 5, including a new digital storybook titled \u201cThe West Coast Mission\u201d.<\/p>\n

Created in conjunction with Scholastic the TurfMutt program helps students 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith drought ransacking the West and many other parts of the country, understanding how to care for green spaces is more important than ever,\u201d said Kris Kiser, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

To inspire kids to apply what they are learning to real life, the \u201cBe a Backyard Superhero\u201d essay contest offers students in grades K through 5 the opportunity to compete for a chance to win a $5,000 grant for a \u201cgreen space makeover\u201d at their school.<\/p>\n

TurfMutt program materials are free and aligned to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) standards. Lesson plans for teachers, take home sheets and learning activities are available. The program also offers a website and blog, interactive games and two digital storybooks.<\/p>\n

A real-life rescue dog named Lucky is the superhero, TurfMutt. A cartoonized version of Lucky is \u201cpawing it forward\u201d by fighting environmental villains with the help of \u201cThe Outdoor Powers,\u201d a band of cartoon superheroes. In the classroom materials, TurfMutt and The Outdoor Powers are on a mission to \u201cSave the Planet One Yard at a Time\u201d and they invite children to join them on their adventures and chip in.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis unique cartoon-based story-telling format makes science accessible, entertaining and motivating for students and their families,\u201d said Ann Amstutz Hayes, Senior Vice President, Scholastic. \u201cWe have created teachable moments that are fun and appealing for kids and encourage them to engage in real-life reading and writing exercises related directly to the green spaces in their community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The TurfMutt environmental education program, funded and managed by OPEI\u2019s Research and Education Foundation, has reached 62 million students, teachers and families since 2009.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Staff \u2014 February 18, 2016 TurfMutt has announced its annual \u201cBe a Backyard Superhero\u201d contest, which awards a $5,000 grant to improve two winning schools\u2019 green spaces, and the addition of new in-classroom materials for grades K to 5, including a new digital storybook titled \u201cThe West Coast Mission\u201d. Created in conjunction with Scholastic the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nursery"],"yoast_head":"\n