everett swanson

You have admired his beautiful drawings in our Phonetic Planet readers. Now, learn a little bit more about our illustrator, who is also an energetic explorer and a keen fisherman!

Everett, where in the world did you grow up?

I grew up in Richmond, Rhode Island, U.S.A.. The land there is mostly flat and quite rural, with lots of wooded areas. We were also pretty close to the ocean, however, and the ocean did play a large part in my childhood. There probably wasn’t a week during my childhood when I didn’t go to explore the shore line. Charlestown Beach, and Beavertail Lighthouse are especially beautiful and I spent considerable time there, especially when my grandfather worked there as a volunteer.

What are some of your favorite childhood memories connected with nature?

Well, I had a friend who went hiking, camping or going to the beach every week, in the warmer weather. I also visited his family’s cabin in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Together we would pretend that we had magical powers; we spent so much time contemplating on these, and deciding on what these magical powers might be that sometimes, by the time we were ready to play, it was already time to go home! Another favorite memory of mine involves fishing trips taken with my grandmother, around the time that I was between six and nine years-old. Even though we lived so close to the ocean, nobody in my family liked to go fishing with me, except her. Our fishing expeditions often focused on the state pier, at Jamestown. We would bring a cooler (containing an ice-pack and some frozen squid which we used as bait), a fishing pole and a hook, and a lead weight. We would also bring the most important thing….lots of patience. Sometimes it felt like it would take days to catch just one fish, although I do remember catching spider crabs, skates and fluke in the summer. Once I even caught a 15-inch fluke! My grandmother grew up during the Great Depression. The snacks she made for me were baloney and cheese sandwiches, on white bread, accompanied by Cape Cod potato chips. In my opinion at the time, she made the best sandwiches in the world.

Is there one special place that you remember with a particular fondness?

I think this place would be the Carolina Trout Pond. This is a man-made pond, stocked with trout, sunfish and large-mouth bass. That was my favorite place to go fishing, usually with my grandmother.

When my grandparents moved to Phoenix Arizona, the desert also became a very special place for me. The desert landscape is so different. The plant life, the bird life is different. Lizards were my all-time favorite thing to try and catch! I only caught one in my whole career of trying that; it was a side-blotched lizard. I always had my eyes open. As a kid, I was always catching snakes, all types of reptiles, amphibians and insects.

How has a childhood spent in nature led you to the life you are currently living?

My whole pursuit of study in university was based on my love of nature. I earned a bachelor of science degree in wildlife conservation biology. From there, in a very roundabout way of speaking, I discovered that I enjoyed teaching about the environment. A love of exploring brought me to Scotland, during which time I earned a Forest School Educator’s Certificate in Sheffield, England. It was interesting to try out teaching positions based on opportunities that were offered to me.

From Scotland, I experienced boarding school life in Switzerland and a farm-based Montessori Erdkinder program back in the New England area of the United States. There is something very rewarding about teaching upper level science classes, but when I am working with younger children, who are just starting to look at the world outside of themselves, it is also very rewarding to support them while they question things like “What is that? How does it relate to me?”I really like hands-on learning. Currently I am pursuing AMI Montessori training for the elementary level (6-12 years).

Can you recommend a book from your childhood?

I really enjoyed a book about a greedy cat called Six-Dinner Sid, by Inga Moore. In fact, I recently just purchased a copy for myself!  Our house was always full of pets, growing up. I can remember 4 cats, 4 budgerigars, 1 rat, 2 hermit crabs, a rabbit and a tank full of fish. Pets have always been part of my life, and I do love cats.

I’m also reading a book of selected essays by Wendell Berry at the moment. I find his ideas to be really inspiring. I see books as special now. Every book holds the answer to something. When we read books, all of these answers add up to be formed into an opinion that we can build on for the rest of our lives.

When Everett isn’t reading, he can be found keeping busy by weaving baskets, cycling, hiking, knitting, drawing, wood-carving, birding, making music on several instruments, hiking in the Austrian Wienerwald horse-riding or gardening. When he can’t be found…..we might check the Austrian Tirol, where he likes to hike or ski in the winter.

Thank you so much, Everett, for taking the time to chat! It is always a pleasure to learn more about your unique appreciation with nature.