In 2008, Dakota County 4-H educated youth and their families to actively participate in additional recycling and waste reduction. They have developed a "Reuse, Recycle, Rethink" curriculum along with four other educational units that have been added to reach additional youth. 478 Out of School Time students and 100 In School Time students were actively involved in the project. Dakota County 4H disseminated their waste reduction message to 78 representatives from 26 4H Clubs and built partnerships in schools, community organizations, and after-school programs that will continue on after grant period.

In 2010, 4-H Staff and the Dakota County Environmental staff were able to educate and activate Dakota County youth and families through hands on sessions aimed at changing behavior and rethinking recycling. 4-H Staff designed curriculum and trained teen teachers to cross age teach youth on the topics of waste reduction, reusing/repurposing and non-toxic cleaning. The Youth Teaching Youth teen teachers and 4-H staff creatively presented the Rethink Recycling materials to the 4-H Community Club programs, Out of School Time sites and Dakota County Fair. The culmination for these groups was at the Rethink Recycle 4-H tent at the Dakota County Fair. Recycled projects were displayed as well as active demonstrations on recycling were presented. Youth were able to participate in make and take hands on activities on the topics of recycling, repurposing and waste reduction.
Education programs were planned and presented in three ways, they were:
1. Out of School Time-for 820 students through 35 programs
2. 4-H Community Clubs-for 28 4-H clubs with a total of 800 members
3. Dakota County Fair-for 10,000+ youth and adults