Meet Our Educators

  • A woman holding a rope attached to a large brown horse with a blonde mane, standing outdoors in a rural setting with trees and a barn in the background.

    Julia Lownie "Farmer Julia"

    Julia is a certified Nature-based educator with vast experience leading farm and nature classes for all ages. Julia has a degree in Environmental Conservation from Umass Amherst, a certificate in Nature-based Early Childhood Education from Antioch in Keene, and a North American Montessori Center ages 0-3 certification. Before moving to Dancing Bear Farm, Julia collaborated with the River Valley Coop in Easthampton, MA to develop and lead art and nature playgroups for families while also directing the Greenhouse and Garden Program at Leverett Elementary School. Prior to that, Julia worked at a Reggio-inspired after school and day care program and helped to build up and run the Farmers Helpers education program at Chip-in Farm in Bedford, MA.

  • A man lying on the grass holding a happy puppy with brown and white fur, with people and equipment in the background.

    Cameron Lownie "Farmer Lownie"

    Cam is a fourth grade teacher at Disnard Elementary in Claremont. He studied creative writing at St. Lawrence College in Upstate NY before getting a job as a copy editor. It wasn’t long before Cam realized a desk job wasn’t the right fit for him, and he ended up as a substitute teacher at Wayland Elementary School. From substitute teacher to Building Sub to Para-educator to fourth grade teacher in Springfield MA, Cam has found his calling working in public schools. Cam helps to run classes and camps at Dancing Bear Farm during the summers and school vacations. Fun fact: Julia and Cam first met while working as camp counselors at a Mass Audubon nature camp together!

  • A woman standing outdoors in a garden holding a small puppy. There are green trees and bushes, a flower basket hanging from a black metal plant stand, and a white archway in the background. A black dog is sitting on the grass in front of her.

    Mary Lownie "Farmer Mimi"

    Mary is our camp Garden Teacher and the Dancing Bear Farm vegetable gardener. She leads garden activities, teaching us how to plant, care for, and harvest fruits and veggies in the greenhouse and gardens each session.

    Mary is also a skilled crafter, and may join us for a craft project or to lead a choice time activity. If we’re lucky she might even bring out the friendly farm dogs, Cassie and Rosie, for a visit and a game of fetch!

  • A man wearing glasses, a gray cap, and an orange shirt leaning on a wooden railing in a rustic wooden building.

    Ken Lownie "Farmer Earl"

    In a former life, Ken was a software executive, but these days is Dancing Bear Farm’s lead builder. Day-to-day tasks for Ken include repairing the tractor, firing up the grill, working on furniture reupholstery, and fixing the many small things that break every day on a farm. If it involves manual labor or grease, Ken is there.

    During Summer Camp, Farmer Earl might join us to read a story, introduce us to the tractor, or to lead a construction project

  • Julia Elkind "Farmer Julieta"

    Julia is an incoming college freshman at Saint Anselm College who loves being outdoors, going on long walks, and working with kids. She is excited to spend her summer at DBF and is looking forward to helping create a fun and welcoming environment for campers.