Do you want for your children to learn about the outdoors, have fun, and see themselves as superheroes? Then you might want to check out the TurfMutt environmental education and stewardship program.

The program is aligned with the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) standards. TurfMutt helps students from kindergarten through fifth grade learn about science and the environment from the perspective of their very own backyard and the other community and personal green spaces they use every day. The free program includes lesson plans for teachers, as well as activity sheets for families, digital story books and an interactive game.

In response to the extreme drought in the West, TurfMutt educates kids about the importance of living landscapes. That includes the grass, trees, shrubs and other living plants that not only benefit the environment, but also enhance the lifestyle of families who use them.

A real-life rescue dog named Lucky was the inspiration for the superhero, TurfMutt. A cartoon version of Lucky is “pawing it forward” by fighting environmental villains with the help of “The Outdoor Powers,” a band of cartoon superheroes. In the classroom materials, TurfMutt and The Outdoor Powers are on a mission to “Save the Planet One Yard at a Time,” and they invite children to join them on their adventures.

To inspire kids to apply what they learn, TurfMutt has just announced its annual “Be a Backyard Superhero” contest, which awards a $5,000 grant to improve the green spaces at two winning schools. The contest is open to kids in grades K-5.

To compete, students must create a story explaining how they are backyard superheroes just like TurfMutt. Character cutouts of The Outdoor Powers and The Environmental Villains (available for download online) complete the stories.

Funded by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s Research and Education Foundation, TurfMutt has reached 62 million kids, teachers and families since 2009. It was created in conjunction with Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company.

Entries are due April 6. Visit www.TurfMutt.com for rules and to enter online.