Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ferril Gardner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Ferril, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is Pop-In Summer Camp. Taking cues for subjects of focus from my students has been at the core of my philosophy since Day 1. Back in 2020 when the majority of my Pop-Ins were booked for academic support in the thick of the pandemic shut downs, I noticed a growing interest among some of my students in learning more about this game Dungeons & Dragons they were seeing more and more in shows like Stranger Things. Given the inherent opportunities for practicing basic skills such as quick maths and creative writing, I quickly brought my player’s manual to one tutoring session, and the rest as they say is history. Ferril’s Pop-Ins is now going into our third year of offering role-playing-game (RPG) day camps where we use the medium of table-top RPGs and the umbrella ‘fantasy’ setting to instill and practice real-world applicable skills of teamwork, collaboration, and creative problem solving.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a born and raised San Diegan and have been working with kids in San Diego, from Julian to Point Loma to Chula Vista, for over 20 years. Before launching my business Ferril’s Pop-Ins in 2019, I was a preschool teacher for the YMCA of San Diego for 8 years, where I truly began to study child development and gain an understanding of the needs of families within my community. I left my position at the preschool with an idea of flexible, arts-based childcare that comes to you- think Mary Poppins meets Miss Frizzle meets wacky art teacher: When You Pop-Out, Ferril Pops-In! I provide educational and entertaining learning opportunities for birthday parties, playdates, and individual childcare, as well as table-top role-playing-game (think Dungeons and Dragons) day camps during Spring Break and Summer Vacation for kids in San Diego. These large-scale Pop-Ins allow me the opportunity to bring in guest artists to share their craft with the community of next generation artists. Many of my clients are former families from my preschool days, some of which I’ve had the honor of knowing for over ten years. The majority of my growth over the last four years has come from word-of-mouth referrals., and when it comes to the care and education of kids, there’s no better advertising. In addition to running Ferril’s Pop-Ins, I am a full time student at UCSD studying education sciences, where I also work as a research assistant in the department of education studies.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Kids are idea machines, and too often they are without the means and resources to make tangible their big ideas. My mission includes a commitment to creating a community of thinkers and makers who pursue their passions by following the spark of curiosity with respect, intention, and heart. Pop-Ins support families in two ways– providing kids with opportunity and materials to run with their artistic and creative ideas in a way that builds connection and community, and parents by offering the peace of mind that they can be away at work event or night out or running day errands while their kids are not only safe, but creatively thriving.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Within the context of my business, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is watching the artistic and personal growth within my students over the years. My oldest students are 13, and I’ve known them since they walked into my old preschool class as wee three year olds. As an educator, the privilege of working with the same families over so many years is unlike any other. I’ve been afforded the opportunity to track the evolving skill sets, interests, and abilities of my students through the continuity of care my business model provides. This model also challenges me to grow and evolve my skills as an educator and art facilitator alongside my students.

Contact Info:

• Website: ferrilspopins.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/ferrilspopins
• Facebook: facebook.com/ferrilspopins
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/ferrils-popins

Image Credits
Ferril Gardner & Hillary Hebert