Small Actions, Lasting Legacy

I recently had the opportunity to meet the granddaughter of one of Woodcock Nature

Center's most impactful executive directors, Lee McIntire.

Hired by Woodcock's founder, J. Mortimer Woodcock, Lee became the nature center's

first full-time director. In the mid-1970s, he and his family lived on the property, where he

was charged with building support for Woodcock’s environmental education programs

and expanding summer opportunities for inner-city youth.

Together with his wife, Lee helped create year-round programming, much of which still

exists today (including summer camp!). They also tapped into the talents and

enthusiasm of the local community to offer wildlife walks, beekeeping demonstrations,

and even cross-country skiing.

Before coming to Woodcock, Lee taught English at Ridgefield High School. After

reading a newspaper article about the nature center, he reached out to Mr. Woodcock.

He was determined to channel his love of the natural world into something bigger.

It was a community (and family!) effort that also included raising money through grant

applications and seasonal fundraising campaigns, such as selling birdseed, Christmas

trees, and wreaths. Those efforts helped lay an early foundation of support for what

would become a treasured community resource.

Lee and his family did what they could. They invested their time, energy, and passion

into a place they believed in, laying the groundwork for generations of children and

adults who have come through Woodcock's programs and left inspired to learn more

and make an impact of their own.

Meeting Lee's granddaughter and her family was a reminder that it's individuals who

make the deepest impact in our community. Large national organizations may be

moving the needle in more visible ways, but it's the everyday actions of individuals that

make real change possible.