Jenny Batten Celebrating 25 Years with Project Success
A few weeks ago, Jenny Batten marked 25 years at Project Success. What began as a 4-month contract has turned into a quarter of a century spent creating and planning countless opportunities to connect students to their purpose.
Jenny first joined Project Success in 2001 as a theater coordinator after 10 years of stage-managing at the Guthrie Theater. Since then, she’s had many different roles at Project Success, and we now know her as the Senior Program Manager – Expeditions. To celebrate her 25th anniversary, we took some time to ask Jenny about her time at Project Success and to reflect on her role, impactful student memories, and what has changed – but more importantly – what has stayed the same over the last 25 years.
What did the early days of your work at Project Success look like? What did a typical day or week look like?
JB: When I started, I answered the phone, talked with students and families, greeted them at the theater, and managed relationships with our theater partners. I ran all of this on excel spreadsheets saved on floppy disks. Also “old school” invitations to the theater involved a lot of printing, folding, and stuffing invitations that we sent through the mail – no email invitations yet! During that time, I coordinated college tours for North High School and also acted as the stage manager for my first Project Success musical at Anwatin, Music Man Jr. After my 4-month contract, I had fallen in love with PS and wanted to continue on fulltime. I came back in the 2001-2002 school year and started growing the college tour program into South and Southwest High Schools and eventually into all Project Success partner high schools. I also helped host what we called “after school workshops,” which were kind of like office hours where students could come and get help with college applications, homework, or just spend time (always with snacks!) after school. I continued to manage the musical productions each year at Anwatin. When I started at PS, there were only 7 of us, so it really was all hands on deck for each experience and program for students, but the energy and excitement for everything we were doing was infectious. And the opportunity to connect with and support students in such an impactful way was really special.
Fun Fact: Jenny got her first cell phone in 2003 because she was taking students on a college tour to Chicago, and she figured she would need it to stay in contact with PS and student families. She still has that first flip phone in her desk!
PS is all about students connecting to their purpose. How would you describe your purpose, and how is it part of your work?
JB: My purpose in this work is to open up as many opportunities as possible for students to grow, recognize their strength and define what they are passionate about, so that they can follow those passions with confidence and purpose.
You probably have a lot of stories working with thousands of students over the last 25 years, but what are a few that stand out in your memory?
JB: The first one that stands out is a former student, Brittany. I got to know Brittany when she was a 6th grader and participated in my first Anwatin musical – Music Man Jr. From there she attended the Boundary Waters trip and I was lucky to have her in my group! She was a connector, making sure all students in the group felt included and had us all laughing with BWCA themed Mad Libs! I was able to connect with her again as a high school student on college tours. It was wonderful to be a part of her journey from middle school all the way through graduation. But then, years later, I happened to run into her in Target, and we reconnected. She asked how she could give back to Project Success, and I immediately enlisted her as a Boundary Waters Trip Leader. She was an incredible mentor on several BWCA trips, and after a few more years, came back to speak at our Dreams to Action Breakfast. It truly has been a pleasure knowing her for all these years and all the different versions of her through her journey to adulthood.
Twenty-five years is a long time, and I have many stories of students who have been impacted by our BWCA trips. I must mention Anna, who was on my very first one. She participated each year in middle school and came back as a trip leader while in college. She later became a theater coordinator at Project Success before following her passion in a career at the University of Minnesota! Izzie was also introduced to the BWCA through Project Success. She now makes it her life’s work to protect the wilderness and introduce more students to the powerful impact of the BWCA as an educator with the organization Friends of the Boundary Waters. But currently, I have a crew of students who are huge supporters of our outdoor adventures and BWCA trips. Eliza and Shiloh engaged with PS in 2020-2021 when they were 6th graders and joined our virtual outdoor club called “Outside In.” When the world was shut down for COVID-19, we would meet online weekly to learn and practice outdoor skills, complete outdoor challenges between meetings and come back to Zoom to share our results. When we were back in-person, Eliza and Shiloh participated in our week-long BWCA trips each summer. Jace and I met on his first BWCA trip with Project Success, and since then, he has shared what a profound impact that trip has had on him. All three – Eliza, Shiloh, and Jace – have since spoken out to protect the BWCA at the Capitol in St. Paul and have been fierce advocates for protecting the natural resources of Minnesota. Their stories stand out because it brings me joy and inspiration to see these young students take such powerful steps to fight for something they believe in — and that they found this passion and purpose through our outdoors programming.
If you could go back and talk to yourself on your first day at PS, what would you say?
JB: I have learned a lot from students with different life experiences and diverse perspectives throughout the years, and because I never stop learning from students, I hope always to keep an open mind and open heart when working with youth and to always seek inspiration from them.
After 25 years, you have seen huge growth at PS with new programs, more students, and endless possibilities. What has kept you at PS for all of these years?
JB: I stay because of the commitment to supporting students and giving them opportunities that allow them to explore paths for their future. I stay because students inspire me all the time and often make me laugh. I stay because Adrienne Diercks, our founder and executive director, has created a work environment at Project Success that cares deeply about the mission and value of Kids First but also cares deeply about the folks who carry out that mission. I stay because of the incredible guidance of Laura Garcia, senior director of programs for Minneapolis, who has always had a joyful and keen sense of how to support each individual student. I stay because even though there are long and challenging days, there is always joy, laughter, and inspiration in the work that we do. That makes it all worthwhile.
We can’t leave without talking about moose. You’re famous for your love of moose. How did that love start for you, and why do you love them so much?
JB: I absolutely love and respect all the Northwoods wilderness creatures and feel great joy when I see them in the wild. But as huge as the majestic moose are, they are very elusive creatures in the BWCA. I feel so lucky when I experience the privilege of seeing one up there. But basically, I love those big, gangly, awkward creatures probably because I am also big, gangly, and awkward.
Over the years, Jenny has gone through countless pivots and program changes, with many responsibilities added to and taken off her plate, but one thing remains the same – the importance of the work we do, and her dedication to providing opportunities for students to connect to their purpose. These days, Jenny focuses her time on our outdoor expeditions, college and career tours, and global experiences programming. Through these different trips and facilitated exploration, students get the chance to find their callings while dreaming about and planning for their futures. Thank you, Jenny, for all you’ve done to make these opportunities happen!
If you are interested in getting involved with the work Jenny does, we are still seeking Boundary Waters Trip Leaders for the summer of 2026. Learn more and application instructions here: BWCA Volunteer Information