Playful Connections
The Brainerd Lakes area is one of Minnesota's most beloved "up north" destinations. With a population of 162,000 that expands by approximately 300,000 annually, North Central Minnesota is home to a complex mix of year-round residents, second home owners, seasonal visitors, and a growing immigrant population. The area is home to both promise and challenge. WonderTrek Children's Museum and its partners envision a more connected region and state and actively works to create connections by bringing together visitors and residents from diverse backgrounds in shared experiences. To advance this vision, WonderTrek's Playful Connections will engage children and adults in program studios to help design an "up north" signature climber exhibit reflecting regional art, culture, and heritage. By bringing together diverse perspectives to share ideas in an adapted studio process, Playful Connections empowers children to lead the way to a more connected region and state through the power of play.
2022-2023 Children's Museum Competitive Legacy Grant
Measurable Outcomes:
* At least 2000 individuals experience Playful Connections studio programming that explores North Central Minnesota's art, culture, and heritage.
* At least 200 individuals from perceived underserved populations, such as Ojibwe, Latinx, LGBTQ, immigrant, military, and Amish families, participate in studio programming.
* Studio program activities are provided remotely in all five counties of region at once per month.
* At least 50 grandparents participate in studio programming activities.
* At least 300 photographs, videos, project outputs, interviews, quotes, surveys, and other evidence of input are collected, recorded, and analyzed to inform exhibit design and development
* Three primary, long-term partnerships are established
* Two Center for Play and Interactive Learning professional development sessions are conducted with staff, program volunteers, board members, and primary partners and one is provided to the broader education community
* Adapted studio learning framework is shared with Minnesota's other children's museum
Donations by organizations hosting Playful Connections programming
CHUCK ALBRECHT, TREASURER, President & CEO, Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union
ELLEN HAGLIN, SECRETARY, Owner & Director, Corporate Communications LINDAR Corporation/ Avantech/TRI-VEN
MATT KILIAN, President, Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce
LAINE LARSON, Retired superintendent, ISD 18
MELISSA MCKAY, Regional Chief Nursing Officer, Essentia Health
PETER OLSON, EX OFFICIO, Museum Project Director, WonderTrek Children's Museum
QUINN SWANSON, Executive Director, Happy Dancing Turtle
SHANNON WHEELER, Early Childhood Coordinator, Pequot Lakes Schools
; PAUL DRANGE, CHAIR
Director of Regional Programs, Sourcewell
CHUCK ALBRECHT, TREASURER
President & CEO, Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union
ELLEN HAGLIN, SECRETARY
Owner & Director, Corporate Communications LINDAR Corporation/ Avantech/TRI-VEN
CHERYAL HILLS
Executive Director Region Five, Development Commission
MATT KILIAN
President, Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce
LAINE LARSON
Retired superintendent, ISD 18
MELISSA MCKAY
Regional Chief Nursing Officer, Essentia Health
PETER OLSON, EX OFFICIO
Museum Project Director, WonderTrek Children's Museum
QUINN SWANSON
Executive Director, Happy Dancing Turtle
SHANNON WHEELER
Early Childhood Coordinator, Pequot Lakes Schools