Mentor Spotlight: TJ Lewis

Hey there! My name is TJ and I’m a Mentor and the Theatre Coordinator at GRP. Spending the summers on the preserve and being a part of the GRP community is always a highlight of each year - I mean, I get to teach kiddos and be surrounded by amazing people and gorgeous nature; how could it not be a highlight? I’ll be returning this year for my fourth summer leading hikes, polar bearing, and embracing the beauty that is the preserve. But before I walk across the back field again or eat some farm-fresh veggies at the lodge, I’ll be spending a lot more time in the classroom, in the city, and bringing some of the GRP joy to my neck of the woods.

Outside of GRP I’m still a teacher. While I’m not teaching how to identify Sourwood or Sassafrass trees, I am teaching kiddos math, reading, writing, and many other things. I work in Louisville, KY, as an elementary special education teacher with kids who need extra support in academics and behavior. Needless to say, teaching is my world, and I’m so thankful I get to do it full-time, in and out of the classroom. In addition to teaching, I’m a member of our Racial Equity and No Place For Hate committees, I’m working on my Project Based Learning certification (building programming that allows students to take an active role in their learning), and every Friday I lead Nature Art Club with seventeen 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Oh, and my teacher team at work won the staff Halloween costume contest with our GoNoodle costumes!

I did say I would be spending a lot more time in the classroom before getting back to GRP this summer, and I didn’t just mean while I was teaching. I’m currently a full-time grad student on top of it all. I’ll graduate this December with my Master’s in Teaching Special Education: Learning and Behavioral Disorders. I plan to pursue two more degrees from there…but I may take a small break before I start on the next.

Finding extra time isn’t always easy and living in the city is quite a bit different from being at camp; it’s a lot louder, everything moves a lot faster, and there are fewer trees. However, Louisville has a lot of parks that offer a great escape from the grind of the city. I still spend as much time outside as possible, whether at a park or walking on Big Four (a retired railway bridge turned pedestrian bridge crossing the Ohio River from Louisville, KY, to Jeffersonville, IN). This past fall, I even joined a kickball team, playing every weekend for eight weeks, and placed second in the championship game! Between my work and classes, and spending time outside, I also try to spend as much time with my friends as I can, going on walks, exploring, seeing concerts, and making memories.

I love my time spent outside of GRP as much as my time spent at GRP. Both offer me so many wonderful opportunities for growth and connection. GRP is always what I look forward to as the school year starts to wind down and I can not wait to be back this summer!