Sarah Ellis

Board Member

Olbrich Botanical Gardens

Sarah Ellis (she/her) is the Community Education & Engagement Specialist at Olbrich Botanical Gardens. She has been a member of the Education department at the gardens for almost 8 years and during that time has facilitated programs for the littlest learners at weekly story times through middle school students in the school field trip program. Her new area of focus is allowing her to get out into the community more and participate in and host programs at many local neighborhood sites. Sarah has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Colgate University, a M.A. in Environmental Conservation Education from New York University, and gained her practical experience working at nature centers and children’s museums before coming to Wisconsin.


Sarah grew up in a rural area of Northern California playing in the creek and hiking the canyons and is happy to be raising her two kids, Theo and Elsie, with her husband, Zach, in Madison. Most weekends and evenings are spent walking the cross-country ski trail in their neighborhood, exploring local and state parks, and generally fostering a love of nature in her children through various outdoor activities. Sarah is very excited to join the WAEE board and help continue their great work!