Remembering our dear friend, Cynthia Bardwell

Teatown is deeply saddened by the passing of Cynthia Bardwell, a longtime friend, educator, and extraordinary champion for children and the outdoors.

Cynthia devoted much of her career to education in the Ossining School District, first as a teacher at Brookside Elementary School and later as principal of Park Early Elementary School. She believed deeply that science was something children should experience firsthand, and that the natural world just beyond the classroom door could be one of their greatest teachers. At Brookside, she helped transform the school grounds into an outdoor classroom where students could explore wetlands, woods, streams, and the ecosystems around them. Her work in inquiry-based science education earned national recognition in 2013.

That same spirit made Cynthia a wonderful partner to Teatown for many years as both an educator and a member of Teatown’s Advisory Board. She worked closely with our educators to create opportunities for students and families to spend meaningful time outdoors. Here at Teatown, she played an important role in the early development of programs that would grow into Nurtured by Nature, Family Nature Club, and Grow Wild Outside. She also helped envision an annual tradition that brought every Park School kindergarten class to Teatown for a full day of exploration and discovery.

Cynthia understood that giving children access to nature could shape the way they learned, the way they saw the world, and the way they understood their place in it. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and Teatown educators remember her buoyant spirit, her determination, and her willingness to keep opening doors for teachers, students, and families.

Cynthia leaves a lasting legacy throughout the Ossining community and here at Teatown, in the teachers she encouraged, the programs she helped build, and the countless children whose education included muddy shoes, wooded trails, streams, and the freedom to learn by doing. In her final wishes, Cynthia asked that memorial gifts be made to Teatown. We are deeply honored by that gesture and profoundly grateful for the many years of friendship, advocacy, and inspiration she gave us.

We will miss her greatly and send our most heartfelt condolences to the Bardwell family. Please find the details for her memorial service below and click here for her obituary.

Cynthia Bardwell Memorial Service

Saturday, September 12 at 10:00 a.m.

Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains (CUUC)
468 Rosedale Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605

Friends and family are invited to bring a photo, memento, flower, or other small item that reminds you of Cynthia to add to our Remembrance Table. Carpooling is encouraged, as parking is limited.