The TurfMutt environmental education and stewardship program celebrates its 10th anniversary of teaching the value and benefits of the outdoors, specifically the contributions of our own backyards, community parks, and other managed landscapes. This year, the program expands its successful youth education program to middle schools around the country, adding new lessons and student activities, including a graphic story as well as cash prizes to its annual contest. “For the last decade, TurfMutt’s message has been simple: care for the green space around you, but equally important, get outside and enjoy it,” says Kris Kiser, President and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), whose Foundation is the creative founder of TurfMutt. “Now we’re expanding to include more students and their families to further promote the health and wellness benefits of being an ‘outsider’.” TurfMutt started as a pilot youth education program to schools in Sacramento in fall 2009, and has grown into a national program for kids, families, and communities. Today, TurfMutt is an official U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Education Partner; as part of their global LEARNING LAB, TurfMutt has appeared on morning television shows, Lucky Dog and Ready Set Pet, and has been featured in Parade magazine. TurfMutt has reached more than 68 million teachers, students, and their families through its own outreach and via the materials created in collaboration with Scholastic. This year, the Scholastic program expands to middle schools, starting with TurfMutt’s “The (Really) Great Outdoors Contest,” which encourages students in grades 6 to ...