‘What’s your dream?’ Tri-City 5th grader leads construction of large outdoor classroom

Ten-year-old Genie Hernandez wants to be a zoo veterinarian when she grows up — but her teachers think she might be better suited to be president of the United States one of these days.

That’s because the Mark Twain Elementary fifth-grader is turning her dreams into realities.

Genie is the mastermind behind her school’s new outdoor classroom, which officially opened Friday, Oct. 6., at a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The 30-by-40 foot concrete pad with a detachable shaded canvas will enable Mark Twain students and teachers to do more activities outside during the hotter months of the school year.

“(Students) can’t usually go outside because the trees are dying. And if they get too overheated, they can get sick,” Genie told the Tri-City Herald.

Now she and her peers can take activities they’d usually do indoors outside: Reading books, conducting messy science experiments and participating in class activities.

“She felt like she was heard and that’s what’s so important as a child,” said Angela Hernandez, Genie’s mother.

‘What’s your dream?’

This project is more than a year in the making.

Genie hatched the idea for an outdoor classroom one day when she was out doing PTO activites with her mom.

From the car she pointed out her 60-year-old school and told her mom about how the school was cutting down tree branches. Genie told her mom about how it was hard for her class to read books outside with the sun blaring down, with no shade, and how it was hard for her two friends in wheelchairs, Hendrix and Harper Ramos, to participate in those activities.

That’s when she told her mom about her solution: An outdoor classroom.

That idea would remain a dream until Genie and her mom met with Travis Tholstrup, manager of Tri-Cities Parr Lumber, one day in August 2022 while fundraising for their PTO back-to-school event.

After handing a check to Angela Hernandez for the PTO, Tholstrup turned to Genie.

“I asked Genie, ‘What’s your dream?’” And she started to tell me the story of her idea and her vision. As I was listening to her, I told her we could help them with that,” Tholstrup recalled.

Tholstrup said he was impressed with Genie’s selfless vision to create something that would benefit not just her and her friends, but even future Mark Twain students.

“She’s very intelligent, very smart, very well spoken,” Tholstrup said. “Genie melted my heart as she was so nice and sweet.”

The total estimate to install the outdoor classroom was $25,000.

Mark Twain’s PTO contributed more than $15,000, while the other $10,000 was secured through donations from the community.

Tholstrup and the Parr Lumber team donated the shaded structure and other essential materials for the concrete. They also gathered 20 volunteers to erect the structure over six hours on Sept. 16.

Allen Cruz with Capital Lumber, Norm Nordby with Internaional Wood Products, and Wade Blagg and John Mattson with American Rock Products all donated materials to the project or offered them at a heavy discount.

Angela Hernandez said this project couldn’t have been made possible without the support of construction companies, PTO members, the school district and, of course, her daughter’s imagination.

“I’m very grateful that they would do this for our school,” Genie said.

A ‘remarkable achievement’

Pasco Superintendent Michelle Whitney said they’re dedicated to amplifying student voices and empowering students to make their dreams realities.

“Genie Hernandez’s unwavering dedication turned a dream into a vibrant outdoor classroom, highlighting the incredible potential within our students and the steadfast support of our schools and community. Let’s celebrate this remarkable achievement and inspire our students to dream big and create positive change,” Whitney said in a provided statement.

This isn’t the first time Genie has been in the public spotlight for her superb fundraising skills.

Five years ago, while in kindergarten, she collected more than $600 in cash and donated items that she fixed together in raffle baskets for her school PTO’s silent auction fundraiser. The benefits from that auction went right back into field trips and equipment for the school.

“This is kind of just who she is and what she’s been doing,” said Angela Hernandez.

This year, Genie and her peers raised more than $1,600 for all-season park tables that will be installed in their outdoor classroom.

And the PTO will continue to raise community funds to eventually double the size of the pad, Hernandez said.

The outdoor classroom’s tall canvas awning can be seen from the backyard of the Hernandez’s home. As Genie grows up, Angela says she hopes her daughter can look to the structure for inspiration during both good times and hard times.

“This is going to be an every day reminder of what a child can do.”