CT's Beardsley Zoo To Celebrate the Opening of the Kathy Brady Education Center, April 29

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo will officially open the Kathy Brady Education Center at a Dedication Ceremony on Saturday, April 29 at 11:30 a.m.

The newly renovated Education Center will be dedicated to the memory of Kathy Brady, a New York resident who loved nature, the Zoo, and photographing wildlife, and who passed away in 2022. The Kathy Brady Education Center is an interactive learning space designed to educate, enrich, and excite explorers of all ages. 

The Education Center has a new outdoor pavilion, walkways, and a fresh focus on Saving Animals from Extinction (SAFE). The 11:30 dedication ceremony will take place in the newly planted garden and will include a ribbon cutting, remarks from Zoo Director Gregg Dancho, and Education Curator Jim Knox.

The Kathy Brady Wolf Eyes Charitable Gift Fund, managed by long-time friend Neil Kenagy, funded the renovation. Kenagy said, “Kathy Brady felt a deep love for nature and animals all of her life and had an ability to share this love through her photographs. The Kathy Brady Education Center will provide a lasting testament to her kindness, generosity, and selflessness. I hope that all who visit here are inspired by her life.”

Zoo Director Gregg Dancho said, “The support of donors, like those who contributed to the Kathy Brady Wolf Eyes Charitable Gift Fund, and the example set by someone like Kathy Brady are integral to the Zoo’s ability to provide rich educational experiences. When you name a building after someone, you celebrate the life they lived and keep their memory alive. The Kathy Brady Education Center will be a legacy to her spirit, as a place for people to gather and share in Kathy’s love of animals and nature.”

Formerly the Zoo’s Research Center, a gathering place for educational programs, rare artifacts, and some of the Zoo’s most fascinating amphibians and insects, the building is also home to the Zoo’s summer camps and teen volunteer programs. This learning space provides guests with the opportunity to experience unique creatures in a multi-habitat setting. A selection of Kathy’s photos will be hung near the plaque bearing her name. 

Festivities will include animal ambassador presentations by Zoo educators inside the building at noon. Single animal presentations will take place throughout the afternoon, at 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served.