March is Women’s History Month. Throughout history, women have left monumental impacts on the field of education. This month, we spoke to some of the incredible women of the Missouri Botanical Garden, Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, and Shaw Nature Reserve‘s education division.
Learn more about their careers, ambitions, and advice by reading on!
The Garden’s Education Division
Since its founding more than 165 years ago, the Missouri Botanical Garden has been committed to connecting people with plants and the wonders of the natural world. Today, education remains at the heart of everything we do. This includes educational opportunities for nearly 1 million visitors annually, strengthening science learning and teaching for students and teachers, and supporting sustainability and conservation efforts throughout the St. Louis community and around the world.
This commitment is deeply rooted in our mission. The Garden strives to deliver exemplary, experience-based education that increases understanding, appreciation and conservation of plants and the natural world, and inspires people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to think and act in sustainable ways.
To achieve this goal, the Garden’s team of professional, passionate educators focus on the following priorities:
- Reconnect people with nature. Inspire more children, families and people of all ages to spend time outdoors, exploring, appreciating and understanding how the natural world works. Through positive experiences with nature, reinforce the plant-people connection and foster lifelong learning.
- Increase young people’s interest in science and conservation careers. Inspire and enable students to become successful, caring citizens who value and practice conservation in their professional careers and personal lives. Develop the skills of educators in natural science content and pedagogy to enable them to help fill the pipeline of future thinkers, doers and problem-solvers.
- Propel the community toward sustainable living. Through training, education and outreach, support community-based efforts to influence attitudes and behaviors that promote healthy, sustainable lifestyles and life choices that contribute to the well-being of plants, people and the planet.
Meet the women in Education
Chelsea Zuckerman, Interpretation Assistant
Photos courtesy of Chelsea Zuckerman
What’s your role at the Garden?
I work as an educational interpreter in the indoor spaces of the Garden. That means I take the hard-to-understand behind-the-scenes science and turn it into fun, educating activities and displays for guests of all ages to enjoy.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Getting to see that moment when a visitor really clicks with what I’m saying. It usually leads to an enthusiastic discussion of the things they are passionate about and how they relate to the topic I’m teaching.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
My Vertebrate Anatomy professor, Kelly Diamond from college! She showed me that you can approach tough topics from many different creative ways. She was famous for allowing students to submit final ‘essays’ in any format; from interpretive music videos to handmade sculptures!
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
Search for the things that make you smile every time you talk about them. It’s okay if they take a long time to find; it will be so worth it in the end!
Julia Beckner, Interpretation Assistant
Photos courtesy of Nathan Kwarta, Julie Beckner
What’s your role at the Garden?
I provide educational programming around the garden, primarily in the Brookings Exploration Center, Children’s Garden, and Tower Grove House. In addition to providing programming, I also help develop and edit the programs, signage, educational handouts, and exhibits displayed Brookings.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
I am very proud to say that I have helped plant thousands of trees and clear acres of invasive species in Wisconsin and in the St. Louis area. It was through those various events that I found a passion for teaching and working alongside the public as well.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
Bindi Irwin has been a life long inspiration for me, we are close in age so it feels like we grew up together to a certain degree. She has always seemed so knowledgeable, compassionate, and enthusiastic about conservation, her attitude and passion is absolutely infectious and is what I strive to embody myself.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
Do not compromise on your happiness. Find what you love and go for it!
Liz Byrde, Therapeutic Horticulture Coordinator
Photos courtesy of Liz Byrde
What’s your role at the Garden?
I coordinate the therapeutic horticulture (TH) team to provide TH services to people across St. Louis city and county (and sometimes beyond). I also provide TH services, including at several area hospitals and cancer treatment centers, Crisis Nursery, Covering House (a home for victims of human trafficking), and Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
I received the Freedom Award from Covering House, which is granted to people who “share our enthusiasm for childlike wonder and helping us achieve our goal to reimburse childhood in a safe space.” I also had the honor of writing the first children’s book published by MBG Press that is set here in the Garden—my husband illustrated it, and publishing a children’s book together was a lifelong dream come true.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
Ursula K. LeGuin, who is a visionary science fiction and fantasy author from the 1960s and 70s. I love that her work explores what it could be like to live in better worlds.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
It’s okay to change your mind, even about big things. You don’t have to be stuck in a career (or a relationship) that you don’t like after all—something will inevitably change, and you can find a path to something better. It’s hard, but it’s possible.
Rachel Beilsmith, Adult Education Assistant
Photos courtesy of Nathan Kwarta, Rachel Beilsmith
What’s your role at the Garden?
I work with the Adult Education team to develop and facilitate education programs at the Garden for adult learners. I’m responsible for our classes within the Fine Arts, Photography, DIY, Gardening and Landscaping, and Green Living categories of our catalog.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Growing up in St. Louis, I spent a lot of time at the Garden exploring Seiwa-en and the Japanese Festival. Those early experiences inspired my love for both nature and culture and eventually led to a decade working as a language teacher overseas. The highlight of my career has been finding a way to combine my experience as an educator, my love of the natural world, and my passion for cultural connection. Being able to weave those threads together into my current role at the Garden has been a truly full-circle moment.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
Dr. Jane Goodall. I admire her not only for her contributions as a naturalist, anthropologist, and primatologist, but for the way she carried herself with wisdom, courage, and compassion for all life on earth.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
Be open to the unexpected. Don’t lose hope if your carefully crafted plans don’t work out the way you imagined. Many of my greatest life experiences came about in the midst of immense challenges or perceived “failures.” All those things are part of the journey to where we are meant to be. Trust yourself and trust in the process.
Maggie Farrell, Science Education Coordinator
Photos courtesy of Maggie Farrell, Sundos Schneider
What’s your role at the Garden?
I coordinate and lead the development of science education programs at the Butterfly House. This includes catalog classes, school programs, girl scout programs, conservation events, and volunteer programs.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
I typically learn new things daily and I love that about my job. A newer highlight in my career is collaborating across sites (Butterfly House, Shaw Nature Reserve, and Missouri Botanical Garden) and developing programs together.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
When I was working on my Masters at Maryville University, I met Amy Quarton, my “Introduction to Leadership” professor. She became my mentor. She taught me and showed me the skills needed to be a great leader.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
Do what you love and love what you do.
We appreciate these ladies for sharing your journeys and inspiring words! Our teams at the Missouri Botanical Garden, Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, and Shaw Nature Reserve are grateful to have so much talent and passion within our Education division to share botany and sustainability knowledge with our communities.
Thank you for learning with us this Women’s History Month. Stay tuned to learn more of the Women of Education!
Leave a Reply