For This Ridgefield Naturalist, The Joy Is In The Teaching

RIDGEFIELD, CT — It was at the Woodcock Nature Center that Ridgefield's Tommy McCarthy learned who he is. Now he's back there nearly every day, repaying the favor.

Woodcock Nature Center is 179 acres of non-profit woods and wetlands, with three miles of trails, in Wilton. McCarthy took a gap year after graduating from Ridgefield High School in 2014, and became an after school educator assistant at the nature center.

He also worked at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, and that was a dream job. Art was his first love. But there was something extraordinary about escorting kids on their first deep dive into nature.

"After coming home from that, I would always be in a great mood," he told Patch.

More than merely mood-altering, the experience would soon prove life-changing as well.

McCarthy's experiences at the nature center inspired him to major in environmental science at Evergreen State College in Washington, specializing in freshwater ecology and geology. His plan entering the school was to study water quality science, but he found, after a few years, "we were getting to the point where we were doing water quality analysis and I felt like it was getting very abstract."

The magic at Woodcock wasn't found in the water samples, he remembered, but in the eyes of the children whose programs he led.

"When they express their appreciation, moments like that are what made me decide this is what I want to pursue."

McCarthy decided he wanted to learn more about how to communicate scientific topics, rather than do the actual research. So after graduating from Evergreen in 2020, he came looking for a job at Woodcock.

He scored that gig, as a lead educator, but it ended after one day with the onset of COVID-19 and its restrictions. McCarthy took advantage of his pandemic downtime to learn about photography, and more about birds, becoming an avid birdwatcher.

The photography is a hobby, McCarthy said, but it has dovetailed nicely with his naturalism work. His photos were even featured prominently in last summer's Art Walk, the annual juried exhibition presented downtown by the Ridgefield Guild of Artists. His work can also be found on Instagram @BirdsOfCT.

McCarthy is among two other educators at Woodcock. He runs the "Uncharted" program, for 6th-8th graders, and also leads weekend hikes on various natural science topics.

He can also be found behind the scenes at some of the nature center's other, less conventional events, such as last year's wildly popular "Frothy Forage," a partnership with Nod Hill Brewery.

"We have little stations in the woods where people can get samples of beer and learn more about nature," McCarthy said. This year's brambles and brew event is scheduled for Apr. 30.

Anything to get people outside, and into the woods.

"It's important for nature to be part of everyone's life," McCarthy said. "Growing up, reading the news, it can be disheartening, and nature is a place that allows you to gather your thoughts and be fascinated by the world, rather than be daunted by it."

Woodcock Nature center is currently looking for college age students to work as counselors this summer. Registration and more information can be found online here.