Terry is concerned about trends in education that are moving away from outdoor, hands-on learning because he believes that this approach can be one of the best ways to learn. He is excited about connecting children to the outdoors and sees the Center’s role as critical to creating a safe place for nature based exploration for youth.

Growing up, Terry’s father taught him how to camp and hike in wilderness areas, no matter where they lived: Black Hills of South Dakota, the picturesque countryside of Italy along the southern edge of the Alps or the rural areas of Wisconsin near Fond du Lac, to name a few. He aspires to share the same sense of independence and awe he felt on those treks with his dad with children and families in the heart of the city who haven’t had these experiences.

As the leader of our Washington Park branch, he looks forward to building strong community partners, reconnecting to colleagues he’s worked with in other capacities, meeting the hundreds of volunteers that make our work possible, and developing new friendships in the Washington Park neighborhood.

In addition to nonprofit management, community organizing and program development, Terry has poured his heart and energy into football, coaching at MPS high schools (Vincent, King and Marshall) and Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center for the past 15 years. He played football throughout his college career, and even tried out for the Packers!

To learn more about Terry, and perhaps even meet his family, we invite you to join us at the Washington Park Winterfest on Saturday, January 24th from noon to 4pm. It is sure to be an afternoon inspired by outdoor play and the warmth of camaraderie. See you there!