Her mother and both maternal grandparents were teachers.
After graduating from Furman University with a degree in environmental science, she returned to Atlanta. She soon joined AmeriCorps where she saw first-hand how outdoor education supplements the classroom and creates that learning spark in students.
“I [served] as a naturalist at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, and led school groups [tours] and programs at the Nature Center,” Grabowski explained. “A lot of the kids would come from inner-city schools in Atlanta, and it was their first time being exposed to such a natural environment.”
Early work with students
When she asked the students what they expected to see on their nature walk, she would get a few strange responses.