TurfMutt Invites Children To Save The Planet and Win 10K For Their Sch

Lori Ennis
by Lori Ennis
One lucky rescue dog, conveniently named Lucky, is the inspiration behind cartoon superhero TurfMutt, and the mascot of a contest that will grant $10,000 to one lucky school!


It’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s TurfMutt to save the day! Well, actually, he wants to teach students and their teachers how ‘to save the planet, one yard at a time.’ TurfMutt’s secret identity is Lucky, the amazing rescue dog of Kris Kiser, the president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI). Kiser first came across Lucky as a stray pup, narrowly dodging traffic and near death. Kiser rescued Lucky and brought him back to health, and Lucky returned the favor by pledging loyalty to Kiser forever, even at work (where Lucky was welcomed with open arms)!


Lucky was present during a meeting Kiser was having with his associates as they planned how to help kids learn to be good stewards of the earth and take care of the environment. Kiser’s colleagues thought Lucky would be the perfect mascot for their campaign, and TurfMutt was born!


Related: Lucky The Dog Tells His Rags-To-Spokes Dog Story On CBS’s ‘Lucky Dog’


And now TurfMutt is again serving as inspiration for TurfMutt’s ‘Be A Backyard Superhero!’ contest. The contest is open to students in Kindergarten through 5th grade and will be accepting essays on how students are helping TurfMutt and his Outdoor Powers Super Friends battle environmental villains such as Carbon Creep, Dr. Runoff and Heat Freak. The winning essay writer will win $10,000 to improve his or her school’s green space and one teacher will be chosen to go to the 2017 National Science Teachers Association Annual Conference.


TurfMutt is part of a collaboration with Scholastic books that encourages students to “Paw It Forward” by taking care of their planet. Through the TurfMutt program, with Lucky as the mascot, over 62 million children, educators and families have learned how to responsibly care for their lawns and the planet. Turfmutt materials are available for free to teachers for classroom use and are aligned to Science, Technology, Math and Engineering standards. Kids love TurfMutt’s adventures and really, let’s be honest. Who knows more about lawns than a dog?


Related: Kids Invited To Enter TurfMutt’s “Be a Backyard Superhero” Contest


If you know an elementary student who is interested in submitting an essay, they can do it on Scholastic website until January 23, 2017. So get them in! Lucky TurfMutt’s counting on you!

Lori Ennis
Lori Ennis

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