Being a Museum Without Boundaries

You may have heard us refer to the Bell as a museum without boundaries—but what does that actually mean? While we use this phrase to describe a lot of our goals as an organization, one of its intentions is to set forth the notion that we’re a museum for all of Minnesota—not just the Twin Cities and metro areas. The Statewide Engagement team is a new initiative at the Bell that leads this Minnesota-wide outreach through intentional and thoughtful action. 

The Statewide Engagement team is composed of Natalie Kennedy, Nia Navarro, and Ashley O’Neill Prado. As a team, they collaborate with organizations across the state to offer STEAM education opportunities and Bell resources. O’Neill Prado explained that it’s important to acknowledge the work other organizations are already doing so that the Bell can offer meaningful natural history and astronomy programs that appropriately and respectfully support and enhance the programs of local groups and organizations.

This work has already had many exciting, tangible outcomes. One you may have already heard of is our Statewide Star Party. This effort, led by Navarro, is a statewide, collaborative effort to bring astronomy education to communities across Minnesota. During this event, partnering community and education organizations throughout the state host their very own Star Parties, with support from Bell educators. This event centers on a specific theme within astronomy, engages experts across astronomy branches and cultural lenses, and also includes a live virtual program component to ensure participation and access to opportunities. Last year, this event brought together 20 different organizations over the theme, Open Minds and Open Skies. Next year’s Statewide Star Party theme is Astronomy for All, focusing on accessibility in astronomy, and will be held in August 2023.  

Another exciting initiative is the MN STEM Stories Camp, organized by O’Neill Prado and piloted for the first time this summer in the heart of Minnesota’s agricultural communities in Greater Minnesota. This new camp, titled My Food Story, is in partnership with the University of Minnesota North Central Research and Outreach Center (NCROC) and the Boys and Girls Club of Greenway and Grand Rapids. During this camp, Bell educators were hired in Grand Rapids, Minnesota to host two weeks of exciting activities with campers. The camp curriculum featured NCROC agriculture researchers as an opportunity to engage campers in active and innovative agricultural science as they explored the question, “where does my food come from?”

When they aren’t directing statewide summer camps, O’Neill Prado is developing connections with communities across the state. As much as possible, they prefer to actually visit the locations, organizations, and communities they hope to work with. Actually being there expresses a level of commitment and relieves some of the expectations that rural communities need to travel to their closest large city in order to access museums. O’Neill Prado shared a bit about their day-to-day life in their position as Statewide School and Community Engagement Coordinator.

“Working with other communities sometimes involves a lot of cold calling and emailing—and being really thankful when people respond. Other times it’s more, ‘hey, I’m in the area and want to learn more about what you’re doing.’ Then, interest and collaboration can come organically. Through conversation you can see where goals and interests align,” O’Neill Prado shared.  

The team has many exciting projects underway as well, including the return of the Exploradome. The Exploradome is a traveling planetarium and has been one of the Bell’s signature statewide programs. While the team is excited to be reintroducing staple programs, they are also interested in expanding their offerings. If you’d like to get involved in one of the Bell’s statewide initiatives or have an idea about how we can serve your community, please reach out at Bell-Statewide@umn.edu.