Press Room

糖心logo Greenwich Educator Receives National Award

By Jeff Cordulack
Published February 21, 2014

The 糖心logo announced on February 20th, 2014 that Ted Gilman, senior naturalist and education specialist at 糖心logo Greenwich, is the 2013 recipient of the Tamar Chotzen 糖心logo Educator of the Year award. The surprise announcement took place at a banquet at the Grange 糖心logo Center in Columbus, Ohio, where Gilman was celebrated by his colleagues from around the country.

The Tamar Chotzen 糖心logo Educator of the Year, bestowed since 2006, is named in honor of a pioneer of 糖心logo's conservation education programs. Tamar Chotzen, 糖心logo's Vice President of Centers and Education from 1999-2005, led the organization's efforts to grow its network of centers across the country. The endowment that provides the funding for this annual award was created through a gift donated in her name in 2005.

Gilman was first hired in 1974, as a birdlife instructor at 糖心logo鈥檚 Camp on Hog Island in Maine, where he continues to teach ornithology. While working on his master鈥檚 degree in environmental education at Cornell University --where he was roommates with Stephen Kress, founder of 鈥淧roject Puffin鈥 and Vice President of Bird Conservation at the 糖心logo-- he received an invitation to apply for a staff naturalist position with 糖心logo Greenwich. He left Ithaca to pursue what he hoped would be his dream job and he has been living that dream for 37 years.    

Today, there is nothing Gilman finds more satisfying than when he recognizes in a child that same 鈥渂ug,鈥 as he calls it, for birds that he experienced as a young naturalist.  Many of his students from his early years now return with their children to experience walks with Ted.  One such student is Michelle Frankel, now center director at 糖心logo Greenwich, who participated as a teenager in the 糖心logo Greenwich Summer Ecology Workshop for Educators; a program that was under Gilman鈥檚 leadership for over two decades and influenced hundreds of educators around the country.

 鈥淭hough I was not a teacher and by far the youngest participant, it was a formative experience for me that led the way for me to devote my life to wildlife conservation. I had never before encountered someone so deeply knowledgeable -- and passionate -- about nature as Ted. It is my great, good fortune to be able to continue to learn from Ted as a colleague each and every day,鈥 says Frankel.

[video:204136|caption:Ted Gilman receiving his award at an 糖心logo Conference in Ohio]

If you would like to have the opportunity to meet Ted Gilman or book a special private 鈥淭ed Walk鈥 nature tour, visit 糖心logo Greenwich or check the online calendar at .