Ray Cramer, Director of Youth and Family Programs

Ray Cramer, Director of Youth and Family Programs

Pronouns: he/him/his

 

Ray grew up moving a lot as part of a military family before settling in rural Virginia for high school and college. His college passions led him to work co-founding one program to get incarcerated youth outdoors, another to create service opportunities in Appalachia, and a third providing programming and support for Washington D.C. homeless shelters. Ray worked on many farms in high school and college, so he also became interested in education for agriculture and gardening during his those years. Advocacy and interest in opening his own perspectives was highlighted with time spent among the Diné (Navajo) in New Mexico, collaborating on ways to share nature across cultures. Ultimately, the purest form of advocacy for Ray became teaching, which led him to work in 10 outdoor schools around the country, as well as become a credentialed teacher in a school with a student population of over 70% minority students, before he arrived at IslandWood in 2004. Somewhere along the line, Ray also discovered a passion for mentoring teachers, active listening, mindfulness and outdoor play. As senior faculty for the EEC program, he leads the Teaching Practicum, Advanced Instructional Strategies and Wilderness First Aid, among other professional development topics. Ray also mentors in and oversees the EEC mentoring program. Over the years, Ray counts over 400 teachers he has mentored (and learned from), including “at least” two national, two state, one county and one city teacher of the year. His approach to mentoring is strong belief in the mentee, along with the support, patience, flexibility and motivation to make the most of every moment. Ray lives on the island with his wife, two children, a border collie and a gerbil. When not working at IslandWood, you might find him sailing, biking, teaching wilderness medicine for NOLS, or out hiking. EDUCATION: B.S. Psychology, Virginia Tech; M.S. Outdoor Teacher Education, Northern Illinois University; California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential; National Registry Emergency Medical Technician

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