As a child growing up in New Canaan, Sarah Breznen climbed trees, learned about plants, played with twigs and stones, explored the forest with her family, and cared for creatures big and small. Today, as Director of Education at the Woodcock Nature Center in Wilton, Breznen gets to do all that – and more!
“At the heart of what I do is reconnecting people to nature and nurturing a new generation of nature enthusiasts, young and old,” shares Breznen.
With 15 years of dedicated service at the Woodcock Nature Center, Breznen’s career journey began as a fresh graduate from SUNY Purchase with a degree in environmental science and a minor in art. In her current role, Breznen oversees Woodcock’s environmental education, including preschool programs, after school programs, school field trips connected to the NextGen science standards, community outreach, strategic partnerships with local organizations like the Ridgefield Conservation Commission, Wilton Go Green, Wilton Land Trust, and Norwalk River Watershed Association, and summer camp. Using innovative approaches that merge art and nature, Breznen educates and inspires others.
“Art is a powerful way to reconnect people with nature,” says Breznen. “Whether we are turning aluminum soup cans into bumblebees, river rocks into turtles, toilet paper tubes into mushrooms, or feathers and dried fruit into holiday wreaths, everyone can find a connection and learn something new.”
The power of nature
Beyond education, Breznen also advocates for the healing power of nature. Citing compelling research, she highlights the many benefits of outdoor learning, including mental and physical well-being, sensory engagement, and support for every type of learner. “Underlying my work is a goal to connect people to the healing part of nature and strengthen their appreciation so they become environmental advocates and stewards,” she says.
Despite Breznen’s quiet and humble nature, her work has not gone unnoticed. Last December, she received the Environmental Educator of the Year Award from the Connecticut Outdoor & Environmental Education Association. This prestigious award honors her commitment to creating diverse, inclusive, and equitable spaces to advance literacy and education, promoting individual and societal environmental responsibility, and inspiring others to take action. And in Spring 2023, Sarah received the Garden Club of America’s Elizabeth Abernathy Hull Award, a national award given to individuals across the country who provide outstanding environmental education to children and inspire appreciation of the beauty and fragility of our planet.
“Nature has no age limit,” says Breznen. “Whether it’s watching a child find their first salamander under a log and learn how to pick it up safely, or seeing an adult have a ‘wow’ moment when they no longer fear a misunderstood animal like a snake or spider and instead understand the creature’s role in our larger ecosystem, I get equally as excited as them!” (Did you know? Snakes are important pest control and help keep the tick population down by eating tick-infested rodents!)
Caring for the world
Outside of Woodcock Nature Center, Breznen is actively involved in environmental advocacy, serving on the board of the Norwalk River Watershed Association, a nonprofit that focuses on habitat restoration, education, and advocacy about the Norwalk River Watershed. Most weekends, you can find her volunteering at Oyster Shell Park, an old landfill that the city of Norwalk capped and converted into a park to eliminate the invasive plants and restore its natural habitat. At home, Breznen is working to make her yard a haven for wildlife that has native plants and every animal in the ecosystem!
What’s next for Woodcock Nature Center … and for Breznen? The Center recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, and updated its logo and branding to better represent who they are. “Woodcock Nature Center is a little gem in Wilton and Ridgefield,” says Breznen. “We have great trails ready for exploration. We have amazing ambassador animals that we use to teach. We have incredible, passionate, and collaborative staff. And we’re growing so we can continue to serve, educate, inspire.”
