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!
MOBOT’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
Lily Kelly, Education Instructor
Photo courtesy of Lily Kelly
What’s your role at the Garden?
I get to teach and interact with students, and adults, of all ages about the importance of bug and plant relationships, and why environmental conservation is so important.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Getting to meet (and educate) so many people from different places and with different backgrounds. I have loved seeing so many people interested in the work we do here at the Butterfly House, and for them to truly care enough to want to make a difference is genuinely wonderful.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
I do not know if I could pick just one woman. Any women that fought for equal rights, and has acted and advocated for change, has inspired me to be strong and work to continue to enact change.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
The work you do matters, the things you feel matters, and you being you matters. There is nothing you cannot accomplish because you are a girl, you can accomplish so much because you are a girl!
Jennifer Wolff, Education Interpretation Manager
Photos courtesy of Nathan Kwarta, Jennifer Wolff, Claire Cohen
What’s your role at the Garden?
I lead an energetic and creative team of informal educators who develop and provide experiential learning opportunities throughout the Garden year-round. The Interpretation team focuses on connecting visitors with the Garden’s mission and rich history through daily programs, tours, exhibits, signage, digital media, and visitor guides. I also oversee the Brookings Exploration Center, Doris I. Schunck Children’s Garden, Tower Grove House, PlantLab as well as the Garden’s Docent Program. I’m proud to be part of the Education Division for 26 years!
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Being a key contributor in the renovation of the Brookings Exploration Center which included the construction of the PlantLab, co-planning the BCGI Education Congress that was hosted at the Garden in 2015, developing the MyGuide to the Garden mobile tour system, revitalizing the Docent Program, and receiving grant funding for the Freedom Seekers Project are among my top highlights of my career.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
I don’t know that I truly have one favorite female inspiration. Throughout my career at the Garden, I’ve been inspired by and have learned from so many women who have helped me grow, challenged my thinking in positive ways, were willing to share their knowledge and expertise, encouraged the best in their colleagues, and were strong advocates for mission-based work.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
Women are unstoppable forces of nature. If you believe you can do it, you will. Each of us carves our own path – some paths lead straight to our goals while others may have a few bumps, hurdles, or even potholes. If your path seems cluttered or isn’t leading you to where you want to go, it is ok to reroute or construct a new path. Follow your passion and don’t be afraid to do what you love!
Skylar Whited, Historical and Cultural Interpretation Supervisor
Photos courtesy of Skylar Whited, Claire Cohen
What’s your role at the Garden?
I’m the curator of Tower Grove House and I manage the historical and cultural interpretation in the garden.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Working on the Freedom Seekers Project discussing enslavement at the Garden.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
Jane Goodall for her compassion, curiosity, and tenacity throughout her career. She helped to pave the way for women to be respected scientists
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
Your voice is just as important as everyone else’s at whatever table you’re at.
Johanna Hill, Teen Programs Coordinator
Photos courtesy of Nathan Kwarta, Johanna Hill
What’s your role at the Garden?
I coordinate the Eco-Act Environmental Leadership Program for high school students, which involves teaching, leading outdoor trips, writing curriculum, setting up experiences with community partners, and mentoring students.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Anytime I hear from Eco-Act alumni that the program had an impact on them, that is really meaningful to me.
Who’s your favorite female inspiration and why?
I have always looked up to trailblazing female naturalists like Dr. Jane Goodall and Rachel Carson. It’s inspiring how they used their scientific discoveries and passion for the natural world to advocate for environmental protection.
Any parting message to girls and women out there?
There are so many exciting environmental things going on in the St. Louis area. Get involved, we need you!
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!
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