Learn about the project and team that created our Get Outside Map.
Christine Lagattolla, the founder and director of Kish Kids Outside applied to be part of the 2023-2024 DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Leadership Academy to network with her classmates and the community.
During the year, the class divided into groups to work on projects that were pitched and voted by the class. Christine was thrilled when Kish Kids Outside was selected and she was able to lead an amazing team who worked diligently together to create an incredible resource for our community.
The team met regularly to develop the plan and collect a list of nature spaces, then divide the work of researching, visiting parks, and taking pictures to upload and complete the final product of the Get Outside Google MyMap that is now available on the Kish Kids Outside website.
The project didn't seem possible without the help of a team who was dedicated to see it through. We are thankful for this team of amazing professionals who cared so much about the mission and made the map that we hope will help connect our community to nature everyday!
Meet the Team!
Onassis Rivera
Onassis is a long-time resident of the Dekalb area and has fond memories of going to parks in the area while growing up. Now, as a father to a very energetic 3-year-old daughter who enjoys nothing more than going to the park, Onassis knew he had to be on the Kish Kids Outside project from the start. From the beginning, whenever working or providing suggestions on the project, Onassis kept his daughter in mind. Now, with the Kish Kids Outside MyMap by Google, published by a team of other passionate members of the project, Onassis and his daughter have an invaluable tool to better know all the outdoor resources in the area including parks with playgrounds. What was most surprising to Onassis, is that even while having lived a long time in DeKalb County, there were lots of outdoor spots and parks that he didn’t know about. Onassis can see himself volunteering his time beyond the scope of the project to advance the Kish Kids Outside MyMap by Google.
What inspired you to become involved with Kish Kids Outside and its mission?
His daughter, who loves nothing more than spending time outdoors and at the playground.
Can you share a favorite outdoor memory from your own childhood or recent experiences?
I used to play at Hopkins Park as a youth and now my daughter can too. Crazy!
In what ways do you hope Kish Kids Outside will evolve and grow in the future?
The Kish Kids Outside MyMap by Google is a living document and can always be improved.
What do you perceive as the greatest opportunity for Kish Kids Outside?
The opportunity is for the vision of Kish Kids Outside to really disseminate in the community, and the Kish Kids Outside MyMap by Google is really utilized frequently by all. Then all of our existing outdoor resources are fully leveraged to the community’s benefit.
Katherine McLaughlin
Katherine is a nature enthusiast who finds peace and joy in exploring the great outdoors with her three children and two dogs. Her passion for sunshine, water, and the earth's natural beauty drives her to seek adventures in all the seasons. Some of her favorite outdoor activities are as simple as breathing in the crisp scent of fresh air and racing through an open field. She embraces each opportunity to connect with nature, fostering a love for the environment and creating cherished memories with her family. Working with Kish Kids was an easy decision for Katherine. She believes in everything Kish Kids advocates for and was eager to learn more about local resources and outdoor activities for her children.
What inspired you to become involved with Kish Kids Outside and its mission?
Working with Kish Kids was an easy decision. I believe in everything Kish Kids advocates for and was eager to learn more about local resources and outdoor activities for my children.
Can you share a favorite outdoor memory from your own childhood or recent experiences?
We recently created a “mud kitchen” for our kids. It was always enjoyable for me as a kid to gather “ingredients” and pretend to make meals. I love to see my kids do the same and watch their imagination transform the world around them.
In what ways do you hope Kish Kids Outside will evolve and grow in the future?
I would love to see each programs grow. I think kids or adults can forget how to play outside if there isn’t a playground. Having Kish Kids resources available would be beneficial.
What do you perceive as the greatest opportunity for Kish Kids Outside?
I think having resources available and consistently encouraging others to go outside.
Matt Maurer
Matt has been a resident of DeKalb County for a year and a half, after moving down from Minneapolis at the end of 2022. He and his wife Amy have 3 young children and 2 dogs, who spend a large amount of time at local parks. Being new to the area, he isn’t always sure where to take his kids when they have certain activities in mind, such as swimming, hiking, or sledding. When the Kish Kids Outside Map Idea was presented, Matt immediately knew it was a project he would want to work on. Now there is a tool to search for parks that offer the specific outdoor activities that the user is looking for.
What inspired you to become involved with Kish Kids Outside and its mission?
Being new to the area, I learned, first hand, the difficulty of finding locations to go sledding, or play baseball or softball with the kids. Kish Kids makes it very easy to find the right location for your specific interests.
Can you share a favorite outdoor memory from your own childhood or recent experiences?
My kids play baseball or softball and I love pitching to them or practicing their fielding skills.
In what ways do you hope Kish Kids Outside will evolve and grow in the future?
As ideas come forward, it can be updated and improved.
What do you perceive as the greatest opportunity for Kish Kids Outside?
As this was being created, it became apparent that even team members who had lived in the area for many years, were learning new things about what County Parks had to offer. I think this is great tool for anyone to use and explore the outdoors.
Jane Pearre
Meet Jane Pearre, your go-to gal for all things outdoors. She’s been a nature nut since before she could walk, and there’s nothing she loves more than hitting the trails with her pups. Whether she’s backpacking into the wild, camping under the stars, or kayaking through peaceful rivers, Jane’s at home where the air is fresh and the views are stunning. She’s all about spreading that outdoor love and can’t wait to share her next adventure with anyone up for it.
What inspired you to become involved with Kish Kids Outside and its mission?
I was inspired by the “outdoor bill of rights” and the idea that all children have a right to access the outdoors.
Can you share a favorite outdoor memory from your own childhood or recent experiences?
My favorite memories as a child were the many hours I spent before school in a duck blind or in a tree stand with my father, the ultimate outdoorsman. While I no longer hunt, that special time outdoors instilled in me a love and respect for nature and conservation.
In what ways do you hope Kish Kids Outside will evolve and grow in the future?
I envision Kish Kids Outside blossoming into a program where every child, regardless of background or ability, can revel in the wonders of nature. I would love to see programing that embraces kids from marginalized communities, the LGBTQ+ spectrum, and those with disabilities and helps ignite not only a passion for the environment but also a sense of belonging in nature.
What do you perceive as the greatest opportunity for Kish Kids Outside?
I think the greatest opportunity for Kish Kids Outside is the ability to help make the outdoors accessible for all children in the area.
chelsea Bemis
While growing up in DeKalb, my local 4-H club frequently held events at various parks & forest preserves throughout DeKalb County. Our visits would include volunteering for cleanup, learning about different ecosystems within, or utilizing the outdoor areas for community recreation. This is where my appreciation for the outdoors began. Understanding the positive impact nature has on children, I am most looking forward to using the MyMap by Google created by Kish Kids Outside to expose my growing family to the beauty of the outdoors and all our county has to offer for recreation.
What inspired you to become involved with Kish Kids Outside and its mission?
It was important to support a project that aligned with my passion of the outdoors knowing the benefits of giving children the tools to be able to connect to nature.
Can you share a favorite outdoor memory from your own childhood or recent experiences?
My family & I would frequently enjoy weekends hiking with our dogs through Afton Forest Preserve.
In what ways do you hope Kish Kids Outside will evolve and grow in the future?
I hope to see this wonderful tool become a household name by local families.
What do you perceive as the greatest opportunity for Kish Kids Outside?
I’m excited to see this tool extended to families within DeKalb County eager to experience nature and discover new outdoor recreation.
Trey Borgrud
Trey Borgrud recently relocated to the area with his wife and newborn child. Having just started a family, Trey is even more committed to creating a community that fosters outdoor engagement for children. He fondly recalls his own upbringing, where outdoor play was a fundamental part of his childhood, and he wishes for his child to experience the same joys and benefits. Joining the group project promoting Kish Kids Outside aligns perfectly with Trey’s values and aspirations for his family, making it a natural choice for him to get involved.
What inspired you to become involved with Kish Kids Outside and its mission?
I believe in providing opportunities and resources for our youth to experience and interact with nature. I think this should be an emphasis for all youth as we move into a much heavier digital age.
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Can you share a favorite outdoor memory from your own childhood or recent experiences?
Growing up in Wisconsin, I have many fond memories heading up to northern Wisconsin during both the winter and summer months and experiencing what nature had to offer during the different seasons.
In what ways do you hope Kish Kids Outside will evolve and grow in the future?
I see Kish Kids Outside as becoming a great resource for future youth of DeKalb County. I believe Kish Kids Outside will continue to grow and be a visible presence in the area that can connect the community to the surrounding environment.
What do you perceive as the greatest opportunity for Kish Kids Outside?
Kish Kids Outside has a great opportunity to connect other local agencies and organizations with similar interests to become an even stronger force throughout DeKalb County. I think this is a space that is in great need right now with kids being drawn more and more to video games, their phones, and computers.
Austin Wilson
Austin chose to be a part of the Kish Kids Outside project because he, as a kid and an adult, loves being outdoors. Austin spent his childhood roaming the neighborhood and the woods that were behind his house. Not living near any parks, he was excited to get the chance to help create a map of parks for kids. He hopes that having all the parks in this area and all the info on them will make it easy on the parents, and fun for the kids to choose what park they want to go to any given day.
What inspired you to become involved with Kish Kids Outside and its mission?
Not living near parks really bummed me out as a kid so I wanted to help create an easy way for kids in a large area to find the park that fits them.
Can you share a favorite outdoor memory from your own childhood or recent experiences?
Recently, and as a kid, I've always enjoyed heading to the nearest pond or lake and fishing for hours.
In what ways do you hope Kish Kids Outside will evolve and grow in the future?
I hope that people will see the usefulness of the map we created and lend support so that Kish kids can even expand the area they are able to help.
What do you perceive as the greatest opportunity for Kish Kids Outside?
Being a smaller organization, Kish Kids could use the help of community members to spread the word and get more people involved.
Sadie Tomlinson
As a lover of the outdoors and bonus mom to two rambunctious boys, Kish Kids Outside was a no-brainer decision to work with. Knowing that I can help not only my own children experience more of the outdoors but also help build a way for other families do the same is the very rewarding. I strongly believe that nature can ground and connect us to ourselves, each other, and the world around us. There is nothing more exciting than seeing mine and other children really get to experience nature and everything it holds.
As a child, I didn’t spend much time outside, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve not only grown to love the outdoors but find it is one of the few things that offers me the ability to slow down, recharge, and enjoy life more fully.
I hope that Kish Kids Outside not only grows and thrives as a go-to place for people to find was to engage and explore with nature but also expands to outside of the Kish area.
I believe the greatest opportunity got Kish Kids Outside is the chance it provides for kids to learn in addition to being outside. As technology grows over the years, more and more people lose the understanding of basic things like directions, understanding the weather, and so much more that will eventually become lost skills.