About the Artist: Sarah M. Smith

A veteran of interpretation, an enthusiastic naturalist and educator, and a somewhat unconventional theatre artist, Sarah has spent over twenty years occupying that strange and magical place where science and art overlap.  She holds an Honours degree in Environmental Studies from York University and studied theatre at the prestigious George Brown College School of Theatre in Toronto. While performing on stages in Toronto and Calgary was very exciting, Sarah knew that there was a raging nature nerd inside her that was clamouring to get out. 

To her delight, she found a wonderful little theatre company that allowed her to indulge herself in both theatre and science, and spent eight years with Evergreen Theatre in Calgary.  While there, she wore just about every hat, from actor to writer to the creator of a science theatre residency programs for kids to the eventual artistic directorship of the company.  She eventually left to start a family and to take on a full-time position at the Calgary Zoo.  While the full-time position gave way to yet another addition to the family, Sarah has over a decade of various roles in the Education department of the Calgary Zoo and can frequently be found there, teaching a program, performing, or working on grounds as an interpreter.

During this time, Sarah continued to explore and share her love of theatre as a teaching tool.  She has given workshops on interpretive theatre techniques, written, produced and performed countless shows for the Calgary Zoo, and has been commissioned to write and produce works for a large variety of clients, including Calgary City Parks and the Smithsonian National Zoo.

Now balancing two small children with her quirky career, Sarah is excited to have become the Rogue Naturalist: an artist, scientist, and passionate educator, bringing innovative education to classrooms, campgrounds, or conferences everywhere!