August 27, 2016
2:30pm
Castleton Pavilion
Casella Theater Entertainment Performing Arts Presentation/Speaker
Erik Shonstrom is the author of Wild Curiosity: how to unleash creativity and encourage lifelong wondering from Rowman & Littlefield. Wild Curiosity explores the relationship between curiosity and learning, and examines ways in which curiosity can be mobilized in and out of school. Erik has written for The Essay Daily, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Education Week, and Children & Nature Network.
Erik’s employment history is a rather rambling affair. He’s been a small-town Vermont newspaper reporter, environmental consultant, cook, mentor for incarcerated youth, as well as worked in orchards pruning apple trees. But, mostly, he’s been a teacher - pushing boundaries in education for nearly two decades. At 19 he became an Outward Bound instructor, guiding youth at risk on 30 day river trips in Florida. He taught students while clinging to cliffs in Joshua Tree National Park; swimming frigid rivers in the High Sierra; snorkeling jellyfish infested waters off Mexico; paddling tippy kayaks amid the orcas of Puget Sound; trudging up narrow trails in the Adirondacks; and, occasionally, in the classroom. Erik has worked for charter, independent, public, and experiential education-based schools. The words “you’ll need to know this because it’s going to be on the test” have never passed his lips.
As a proud card-carrying member of the Gen X grunge subculture, Erik is a rather careless dresser. Gustatorily, he is the human equivalent of a garbage disposal, and has been known to hurl objects at the screen during Power Point presentations. He has an MFA from Bennington College, lives in Vermont with his family, and teaches writing at Champlain College.
This event is free and open to the public.