After more than one year without a permanent employee at the helm, the New Canaan Nature Center on Monday afternoon announced that a longtime staff member will take on the role of executive director.
Bill Flynn. Contributed
Bill Flynn, most recently the Oenoke Ridge Road organization’s director of animal care & environmental educator, starts in the leadership role following a “comprehensive search and selection process,” according to Linda Andros, president of the Nature Center’s Board of Trustees.
“He’s an accomplished naturalist with excellent communication and leadership skills,” Andros said in a press release. “We are confident that he will take the Nature Center to the next level while continuing to deliver on our core values of community, education, protection and preservation.”
Flynn, a resident on the town-owned property’s campus, came to the Nature Center in 2010 following a stint as naturalist and environmental science educator in Ohio and Southern California, according to the press release. He has earned degrees in Environmental, Population and Organismic Biology and Pre-Medicine from the University of Colorado, Boulder, it said.
“The New Canaan Nature Center has been growing with our community for nearly six decades and it’s a true gem,” Flynn said in the release. “It’s 40 acres of natural habitats, trails and gardens combined with its incredible programming and talented staff are what make the community’s Nature Center so special. It is well positioned to be a unique provider of nature-based experiences for all ages. My vision for the Nature Center is to provide positive natural experiences to inspire people to fall in love with the natural world. I believe this cultivates environmental advocacy, which is critical for our future.”
Mary Emerson, a trustee, has served as director on an interim basis since last March.
This is wonderful news! Bill is an amazing person!