Year: 2025

02 Oct 2025

Jalapeño Popper Chicken Dip

Jalapeño Popper Chicken Dip

This jalapeño popper chicken dip is a creamy, cheesy, and flavor-packed appetizer with just the right amount of heat. Loaded with shredded chicken, crisp bacon, cheddar, and fresh jalapeños, it bakes into a bubbly, irresistible dip. Perfect for parties, game day, or any gathering, it pairs perfectly with tortilla chips or crackers.

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup Cooked Chicken Breast, shredded
  • 8 oz Cream Cheese
  • 3 Jalapeño Peppers, seeded and diced
  • 2 Cloves Garlic finely minced
  • 1/2 cup Sour Cream
  • 2 cups Cheddar Cheese, shredded
  • 2 cups Cooked Bacon, crumbled
  • 2 Tbsp Green Onion
  • Choice of product for greasing baking dish

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • In mixing bowl, combine: cream cheese, garlic, sour cream, chicken, green onion, jalapeños, cheddar cheese (reserve 2 tablespoons for topping), and bacon (reserve 2 tablespoons for topping).
  • Grease baking dish and add dip mixture into dish. Spread evenly.
  • Top with remaining cheese and bacon.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is warm and bubbly. Cool a few minutes before serving.
  • Optional: garnish with chopped green onions. Serve with tortilla chips or crackers.
02 Oct 2025

Ground Lamb Nachos

Ground Lamb Nachos

These ground lamb nachos are a bold twist on a classic favorite. Crispy tortilla chips are layered with spiced lamb, melted cheese, and fresh toppings like radishes, green onions, banana peppers, cilantro, and sour cream. Perfect for sharing, this hearty dish brings rich flavor and a Mediterranean-inspired flair to game day or casual gatherings.

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Ground Lamb
  • 3 cups Mexican Blend Shredded Cheese
  • Olive Oil
  • 1 (12oz) bag Tortilla Chips
  • 1 Yellow Onion
  • 3 Garlic Cloves, minced
  • 1-1 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • 1 tsp Ground Cumin
  • 4 Green Onions, thinly sliced on the bias
  • 2 Radishes, thinly sliced
  • Banana Peppers
  • Cilantro
  • Sour Cream

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Heat olive oil in large pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is heated, add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown (about 3 minutes).
  • Add salt, garlic, cumin, and paprika. Stir until aromatic (about 1 minute).
  • Add lamb, use wooden spoon to break up. Cook, stirring often, until cooked through and crisp (about 6 minutes). Remove pan from heat.
  • Spread half the tortilla chips on a rimmed sheet tray.
  • Top with 1 1/2 cups of cheese and half of the lamb mixture.
  • Top with remaining tortilla chips, remaining cheese, and remaining lamb.
  • Bake until cheese has melted (about 5 to 7 minutes). Remove from oven.
  • Top with green onion, radishes, banana peppers, cilantro, and sour cream. Serve immediately.
25 Sep 2025

Locally Developed Education Program Gains National Recognition

Locally Developed Education Program Gains National Recognition

EcoVillage Wins 2025 Educators Pick Best of STEM® Award for Environmental Science

Indian Hill, OH (September 3, 2025) — Greenacres Foundation is proud to announce that EcoVillage, a collaborative environment education program developed in partnership with JASON Learning and the Indian Hill Exempted Village School District, has been named the Best of STEM for Environmental Science in the 2025 Educators Pick Best of STEM® Awards.

The Educators Pick Best of STEM® Awards are the only national STEM honors program created by educators, for educators, and judged by a distinguished panel of STEM professionals. Each year, thousands of STEM teachers across the country evaluate and select innovative resources that are transforming teaching and learning in today’s classrooms.

EcoVillage stood out for its unique, hands-on approach to environment education. Designed for grades 3–5, the program challenges students to design and build a sustainable community from the ground up—making decisions about natural resources, businesses, and civic life. By combining environment education, entrepreneurship, and civics, EcoVillage encourages systems thinking, creativity, and responsible stewardship.

What began as a community favorite, in-person field trip at Greenacres has now expanded into a free, nationally accessible digital curriculum through JASON Learning’s online platform. Since launching in June 2025, EcoVillage has been available for educators nationwide to integrate into their classrooms at no cost.

Are you an educator?

The collaboration highlights Greenacres Foundation’s mission to connect people with the land through immersive, hands-on learning experiences. By integrating authentic classroom learning with sustainability and environment education, EcoVillage reflects Greenacres’ commitment to preparing the next generation of problem-solvers and community leaders.

About Greenacres Foundation

Greenacres Foundation is a nonprofit committed to education, research, and conservation. Managing over 1,200 acres in Indian Hill and beyond, Greenacres provides immersive experiences in nature, sustainable agriculture, and the arts—serving over 30,000 students annually.

    About JASON Learning

    JASON Learning is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit transforming science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education through real-world STEM curricula, project-based learning experiences for Pre-K–12 students, and high-quality professional development for teachers. JASON’s mission is to “inspire and educate students everywhere through real science and exploration.”

      About Indian Hill Schools

      Ranked consistently as one of the top-performing schools in Ohio and nationally – the vision of the Indian Hill Exempted Village School District (IHEVSD) is our #IHPromise which prioritizes our students by empowering their voice in a personalized, collaborative, and inclusive learning environment. More than 2,200 young scholars enjoy the exceptional educational services IHEVSD offers ensuring each student’s intellectual development, personal growth, and social responsibility. IHEVSD serves students in the Village of Indian Hill; Kenwood; parts of Symmes Township; Camp Dennison; and a few houses in Loveland.

      For more information, please visit www.indianhillschools.org, and join the social media conversation – Facebook: Indian Hill Exempted Village School District; X/Twitter: @IHSchools; Instagram: indianhillschools; LinkedIn INDIAN HILL EXEMPTED VILLAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

      Learn More

      EcoVillage STEM Program Footer
      26 Aug 2025

      More Than Rolling Hills: The Story of Michaela Farm’s Forest

      More Than Rolling Hills: The Story of Michaela Farm’s Forest

      If you’ve driven along State Route 229, you’ve likely admired the sweeping pastures of Michaela Farm. While those rolling hills are a defining feature of the landscape, they’re only part of the story. Michaela Farm is home to a rich mix of ecosystems that provide habitat for native wildlife—bobwhite quail call across the grasslands, spring peepers sing from ponds and wetlands, and deer and turkey forage on acorns in the forest.

      At the heart of this nearly 250-acre farm lies a small but ecologically vibrant forest of about 40 acres. Walking its trails reveals a living story of change, resilience, and renewal.

      These efforts build on decades of stewardship by the Sisters of St. Francis, who established CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) plantings and native grasslands across the farm. Today, Greenacres continues that mission with support from the community. This past spring, our staff joined students from Oldenburg Academy to plant more than 100 native trees and shrubs near the Education Center. Species like redbud, black gum, hazelnut, plum, persimmon, and black cherry were carefully chosen to stabilize a slope, create a gradual transition from forest to field, and provide food and habitat for wildlife. For students, it was also a hands-on lesson in what it means to care for the land.

      The forest at Michaela Farm may be small, but its impact is wide-reaching—supporting wildlife, nurturing biodiversity, and offering daily reminders of the importance of stewardship.

      If you’re curious about how you can manage forests, natural areas, or invasive plants on your own property, reach out to our Research team at research@green-acres.org.