Creed Gardiner ('26)

Hailing from Salt Lake City, Utah, Creed Gardiner (he/him) is a junior American Studies major over at Pauli Murray, concentrating in material cultures and built environments. As part of the intensive EDST certificate program, he is interested in outdoor education, social and emotional learning, educational architecture, and queering education.

This summer, Creed was a recipient of the President’s Public Service Fellowship, a project working on expanding opportunities for Yale students to work with public sector and nonprofit organizations all over New Haven. In an almost destined turn of events, he was placed at Common Ground Summer Camp as an Assistant Teacher. There, his program spent their time outdoors, fostering self-discovery, teamwork, and environmental awareness through creative play and active exploration. Campers engaged with the Common Ground Farm and the Children’s Garden to learn how earth is the origin of all food.

Throughout his residency, Creed led group hikes, handled various animals, learned to administer first aid, and designed his own activities. A particular favorite of his was the “Chopped Cooking Challenge.” Campers were asked to plan and prepare a dish using farm-fresh ingredients such as blueberries, tomatoes, sorrel, oregano, mustard greens, radishes, and many more. Creed’s favorite dish from the sessions was the eggplant rollatini! 

“It was a great opportunity to see kids gain confidence as they experienced forest play, garden cooking, and the woodshop; I was surprised at how successful five-year-olds can be in a woodshop with real hammers, nails, saws, and just enough adult supervision,” Creed says. 

In five years, Creed envisions himself teaching at a school abroad, although he hopes to eventually return and settle into a U.S. school. Below are some photos from Creed’s experience, but for more you can head over to Common Ground’s Instagram @commongroundcamp.