ian gramling

Teacher at Wren’s Nest

Pronouns: he/him

I’m Ian, and I am currently a teacher at Wren’s Nest Forest Preschool. I’m a native Vermonter who grew up in Ferrisburgh, but now I live in an apartment in Bristol, Vermont. I was a student at the Walden Project during high school, spent some time at college studying military history, and returned to Willowell in 2020 to help start the New Roots Project. I served with Willowell as an AmeriCorps service member for 2 ½ years and since then have been working here as a teacher at Wren’s Nest, the New Roots Project, Ferrisburgh Forest Fridays, and leading summer camps.

Particular things I enjoy as an educator are connecting kids with our home of Vermont and its different historical events, such as the Revolutionary War, teaching outdoor and bushcraft skills, and creating adventure summer camps such as Ninja Camp and Pirate Camp. Being a forest preschool teacher, my goal is to help develop resilient, compassionate, self-sufficient, and adventurous young humans who have a deep connection with the wilderness. I am a deep believer in risky play, play based learning, child-centered education and the power of mud, snow, dirt, and rain in enlivening our youngest minds and acclimating them to all kinds of weather.

When I’m not at Willowell I’m engaged in one of my many hobbies, including (but not limited to) historical reenacting, metal detecting, bushcraft, playing traditional Irish music, primitive camping, old cemetery restoration, film photography, mending, collecting Finnish antiques, and much more.