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.