Call of the Wild
The Kimberlin Nature Education Center helps visitors
discover, enjoy and develop a respect for the natural world.

Kevin and Joni Kimberlin of Greenwich, CT.

On weekdays, you might find Kevin Kimberlin, chairman of the board of Manhattan venture capital giant Spencer Trask, crunching numbers behind a desk or flying cross-country in search of bright, new ideas from young entrepreneurs.

But when the workday’s done, you’re more likely to find him crunching leaves under his boots as he hikes around the woods looking for brightly colored salamanders under centuries-old rocks.

“I love to be outdoors,” says the Greenwich father of three. “It brings out the explorer in me, the ‘what’s over the next hill?’ ”

It’s a thrill of discovery that’s not lost on his wife, Joni, a writer and scuba-diving master, and their three children, all of whom often join Kimberlin on his adventurous jaunts.

So it’s no surprise that one of the couple’s favorite places is Audubon Greenwich, a 645-acre oasis of trails and unspoiled wilderness where they’ve found everything from water snakes to walking sticks. And it’s their shared love and respect for the natural world that the Kimberlins hope to foster in families across the region by lending support – both financial and creative – to this “living classroom.”

Last September, Audubon Greenwich christened the Kimberlin Nature Education Center, a state-of-the-art, 15,000-square-foot facility that helps visitors better understand the world around them through what one reporter called “shout-out-loud fun” interactive nature exhibits, workshops, summer camps and lectures.

Named to honor the Kimberlin’s commitment to science education through their strong support for Audubon Greenwich’s Nature of Discovery capital campaign, the Kimberlin Center will receive another boost through the “Wonder of Nature Celebration,” an October 23 gala chaired by the Kimberlins, along with their friends Charles and Deborah Royce of Greenwich. With its fun ‘60s theme and live and silent auctions featuring top vacations and other goodies, it’s hoped that this event will raise more than $1,000,000.

“This is a very natural thing for us to support,” said Joni Kimberlin, who has long been involved in town efforts to preserve Long Island Sound. “And it has surpassed expectations. It’s not just serving children in Greenwich. We have had children from the Bronx to Bridgeport traveling to Audubon for programs, which I think is wonderful because one thing we have to work on in this country is science literacy.”

As someone who’s made a career of supporting scientific and technological advances, Kevin Kimberlin knows firsthand why teaching kids to love natural sciences is important. Perhaps a hike to Leatherman’s Cave, an afternoon hawk watch or a rainy day spent observing the live beehives at the Kimberlin Center will spark a budding scientist’s life’s passion.

“My hope is that kids will turn that curiosity into a lifetime of learning and discovery,” he said. “It’s certainly what gave me the bug.”