Jim Knox and Carolyn Rinaldi of Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo have earned top honors from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for their Cool Blue program, a hands-on initiative that pulls urban youth into the real work of conservation. This award underscores what many in our community already know: Beardsley Zoo is more than an assortment of animals—it is a dynamic center of education and conservation stewardship that we are fortunate to have so close to home.
The Beardsley Zoo’s recognition is about the tangible impact that this institution has on our region. Jim Knox, a driving force behind the Zoo’s educational mission, ignites a sense of wonder in every visitor, from schoolchildren seeing a red wolf for the first time to adults rediscovering their connection to nature. Under Knox’s leadership, the Zoo’s programs blend the joy of discovery with the urgency of conservation.
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, established in 1922, is the state’s only accredited zoo. Originally funded by industrialist James W. Beardsley, who donated land, it began with a modest collection of native animals. P.T. Barnum, the famed showman and Connecticut native, played a pivotal role in shaping the Beardsley Zoo in its early years. Over the decades, the Zoo expanded both its exhibits and its mission, evolving from a small local attraction into a key player in global conservation efforts.
Today, the Zoo houses over 350 animals, many of which are endangered species, and participates in numerous Species Survival Plan programs aimed at preserving and protecting vulnerable wildlife. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Beardsley Zoo continues to educate the public about the importance of wildlife conservation through interactive exhibits, educational programs, and research initiatives that connect visitors with the natural world.
The Beardsley Zoo offers something rare: a place where learning is hands-on, where questions lead to discovery, and where the stakes—saving endangered species—are real. Programs like Cool Blue and RIZE with Fairfield University bring students out of the classroom and into the field, where they conduct behavioral studies on everything from spider monkeys to red wolves. This approach shapes the next generation of conservation leaders. It shows young people that conservation is not a distant concept but a living, breathing mission they can affect.
Through its Species Survival Plan programs, Beardsley Zoo works tirelessly to preserve species that are disappearing from the wild. This is not theoretical work; it is urgent, hands-on, and sometimes heartbreaking, as Zoo staff navigate the complexities of breeding programs, habitat management, and animal care.
For residents of New Canaan, the Beardsley Zoo is a nearby sanctuary where the beauty and fragility of the natural world are on full display. It is a place that invites us to pause, to learn, and to take stock of our role as stewards of this planet. When we visit, we are not just entertained; we are reminded of the delicate balance that exists between humans and the environment, a balance that institutions like Beardsley Zoo fight every day to protect.
The awards won by Knox and his team are validations of a philosophy that places education and conservation at the heart of the Zoo. Their work exemplifies a simple but profound truth: education can inspire action, and action can drive change.
Having the Beardsley Zoo so close to New Canaan is a gift, one that we should neither take for granted nor overlook. The Zoo reminds us that conservation starts at home, with education, with engagement, and with the simple act of caring.
Jim Knox and his team are educators, conservationists, and, above all, custodians of hope. We are fortunate to have them, and we are fortunate to have the Connecticut Beardsley Zoo.
