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01/31/2024 08:30 AMNot many of us can trace our career choice back to childhood, but Russ Miller’s path in life was essentially set during the early years of his life. A Killingworth resident and educator at the Meigs Point Nature Center who’s been known as “Ranger Russ” for decades, Russ knew from an young age that he was destined to bring his passion for the outdoors to his community.
Russ showed a love for the woods and the creatures that inhabit them as a youngster, and his mother did whatever she could to foster that passion.
“I grew up in Uncasville, a small town, a very small town at the time because there was no casino,” says Russ. “I’m not sure how old I was—maybe six or seven years old—I always talked about nature. And my mother says that I always said that I wanted to work for Smokey Bear when I grew up. I had a Smokey Bear stuffed animal as a kid. And she started taking me to local nature centers and nature classes, and then in grade school I had a teacher that used that as a motivation for me.”
Russ says that he struggled with learning difficulties in school as a child, but was greatly aided by the kindness and generosity of several teachers who recognized his passion for the outdoors and encouraged him to develop his skills while adapting to his educational journey.
“I had learning disabilities as a kid, and I had a really hard time in school. Our classroom was full of animals—lizards, snakes, hamsters—the classroom was full of animals,” Russ says. “Keith Waters taught me 4th through 8th grade, and he was one of my most inspiring people in my life. We would go on nature walks a couple of times a week, and he would have everybody else stay on the trail, but he would have me come out with him off the trail to lift up the board and try and catch the snake. And by the time I was in 7th or 8th grade, he would lift up the board and have me try and catch the snake. That was really cool and had a huge impact on me.”
That experience proved a turning point for Russ. When Russ went on to high school, another mentor helped solidify his decision to find a way to forge a career in educating people about the outdoors.
“Then I got to go to Ledyard High School for the vocational agriculture program. My next mentor was Ms. Roy. She was the best teacher I could’ve had. I really couldn’t have asked for anything more. She put me in charge of nature walks for the grade school kids, and that was my first opportunity to teach others,” says Russ. “I remember one time we were out doing some tree identification. I got to go out in the woods, in the snow, and I was looking back and we could see the French classroom, and I remember thinking, ‘I don’t have to take French because I’m out here doing tree ID!’ That day Ms. Roy asked us to stay behind and asked us, ‘You know more about birds than I do. I want you to teach the class.’ That is the first time that I think I realized that you learn more by teaching than you do attending a class. The fact that a teacher could admit to me that I knew more about a topic than see did…it was such a great experience.”
Russ began his career at the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) more than 28 years ago. While giving a lecture at Rocky Neck State Park during his initial days, another pivotal moment occurred for him.
“I had like 275 people show up for a talk on snakes, and I was ready to throw up, I was so nervous” says Russ. “But I got up and started talking…and, five minutes into it, I remember standing on stage—I was holding a garter snake—and I said to myself, ‘I need to do this the rest of my life.’ That’s where I decided I needed to go back to school, I got my bachelor’s in biology at [Eastern Connecticut State University] and, from that point on, the career goal has been education.”
Russ’s official title with the DEEP at the Meigs Point Nature Center is Environmental Protection Maintain II. Russ is responsible for a huge team of more than 100 colleagues and volunteers who not only keep Hammonasset and Meigs Point beautiful, but also educate families and residents on the importance of the park through a program that caters to every age and interest.
“Pretty much from the time I graduated high school, I have been working for the DEEP. Everybody calls me Ranger Russ. If I don’t have the hat, people don’t know who I am. I just disappear when I take my hat off,” Russ jokes. “Our main goal really is to educate. We say around here that we are educating future voters. But actually, they don’t even need to be future voters because we are educating adults, as well. The best way to preserve and protect our environment is to make people aware of the environment. Then it’s up to them. We certainly are not going to tell you how to make your decisions, but we’re going to give you the info to make an informed and educated decision. That is our main goal.”
“We have a fantastic crew here and an amazing amount of flexibility,” Russ adds. “The building can’t run without all of the people here. On any given year, I have about 90 volunteers and up to 10 seasonal staff who do the programs, feed the animals, greet the visitors, answer questions, and everyone here is family. It really is a unique work environment, and the people who work here and across all of the DEEP are just so invested in what we do here. That is the greatest thing I’ve encountered in my career at DEEP-just how enthusiastic and energetic the people are here.”
According to Russ, the Hammonasset River is uniquely positioned in the Sound, creating an incredibly diverse habitat that supports numerous native and migrating species. Russ says it’s tough to narrow down his favorite species since there are so many that he encounters on the job.
“I always tell people I’m not an expert in any one of the fields here. There’s a lot to know, running this entire building. I’m not an expert, but I know the experts. So, I know who to call. Our classroom is out there. We do have indoor classrooms, but the main focus is getting kids and adults hands on and out into the environment,” says Russ. “I always tell people that my favorite animal is the one I’m learning about because it is. They are all my favorites. They are like your kids. You can’t have a favorite. My favorite changes all the time.”
The Meigs Point Nature Center features numerous programs for kids, families, and adults. For more information about the center, visit www.meigspointnaturecenter.org.