Mendota Heights Teacher Named 'Harmony Hero' By EarthKind

MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN — A science teacher at Visitation Middle School was recently recognized by EarthKind as a Harmony Hero for her efforts to educate students about pollinator and monarch butterfly protection, Minnesota ecosystems and migratory animals.

Caroline Little encourages students through her "eco-expedition" program to get outdoors and connect with nature, EarthKind, a pest control company, said.

The Harmony Hero Award Program is part of EarthKind's 2021 Year of the Monarch national initiative to recognize one K-12 teacher across the country per month who incorporates eco-education into their curriculum, EarthKind said.

Little will receive in-service training from an entomologist on IPM practices for their school, and sustainable product essentials for eco-education and outdoor adventures, and also be considered for the grand prize of a trip to Mexico to see butterfly migration, EarthKind said.

"My main goal for our eco-expeditions has been to nurture a sense of wonder, instill an explorer’s mindset, and advance student growth as we investigate the world around us through patterns and processes that deepen our understanding of the interactions between human and natural systems,” Little said.