Oakleigh Thorne II
The environment and education are complimentary to each other and Oakleigh Thorne the Second pulled them together in Boulder over 50 years ago. In doing so, he helped make Boulder environmentally conscious and during those years he has taught thousands of children, young people and adults how to act responsibly in caring for the earth.
Dr. Thorne was born in New York City and grew up in rural Long Island. He attended Millbrook School where he became an avid bird bander, and Yale University where he received a B.S. in biology and an M.S. in Conservation. Moving to Boulder in 1954, he earned a Ph.D. in zoology and animal behavior. At the same time, he founded Thorne Films, Inc., an educational film company, Owl Records, and Thorne Ecological Institute, a nonprofit educational organization. Today, the Institute is celebrating its 50 th anniversary year with Dr. Thorne the honorary president.
The Institute provides environmental education for children, teens and adults. In recent years, it helped create a partnership between the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, the Boulder Valley School District and Thorne Ecological whereby Sombrero Marsh has been preserved as permanent open space and an Environmental Education Center established. Environmental education classes are provided for the schools. Oak teaches a course in Nature Photography at New Vista High School.
In 1957, Oak helped found a Natural Science School that is now run by the Institute. He was active in the 1960s in helping preserve Enchanted Mesa and Settler's Park, and in passing the first City of Boulder sales tax to purchase and preserve open space. He was a founding member of PLAN-Boulder County and a member of the City's first Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, also chairing the Mayor's Committee on Youth Activities.
Oak is also a jazz pianist, does composing and vocal arranging, and sings with a Boulder/Denver men's a capella singing group, the “New Wizards Oil Combination.” At Yale, he was musical director of the famous Yale “Whiffenpoofs” singing group and a member of the Yale Glee Club. He is an informal mentor to three CU undergraduate singing groups, including the “CU BUFFoons” which he founded in 1962.
At 75, Oak says he thoroughly enjoys being a mentor to young people.
To learn about more about Boulder's 'New Pioneers', check out our previous Award Winners page.
