Bright Ideas

 

 

How do we develop programs that are welcoming and inclusive to all members of our communities? What does it mean to be culturally relevant? This forum will explore how parents and educators in one community approach these questions. We’ll spend the evening hearing stories from a public school educator, a parent, and a nature-based preschool founder in Minneapolis, MN, as they share their different paths to nature and what culturally relevant teaching means to them. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thenedra is a wife and a mother to 4 boys. She also has a Great Dane and 4 hens. She enjoys traveling with her family, dining out at new food places, and being a content creator. Thenedra grew up camping and has had a love for the outdoors since she was young. She now find great joy in experiencing it all over again through the eyes of her young children.

 

 

 

 

Maria Jose Villavicencio Moreno was born in Cuenca, Ecuador, and immigrated to Eden Prairie, MN, when she was 13 years old. Her childhood in Ecuador was filled with nature—visiting beaches, rainforests, and mountains were regular activities for her family. Upon moving to Minnesota, time outdoors was more of a luxury, with barriers that made it harder and harder to enjoy outdoor experiences. Maria has been an elementary school teacher for 23 years, where she’s seen many children facing similar barriers to getting outdoors. This led Maria to become an advocate for outdoor learning. She and a colleague founded Wilderness Wednesdays at their school and now they create opportunities for students to go sledding, snow shoeing, and simply explore their nearby nature. She looks forward to seeing where her and her students’ outdoor adventures will lead.