Jeff Corwin: From Wildlife Champion to SOFO Honoree

When Jeff Corwin arrives in Bridgehampton on July 12 for Andy Sabin’s South Fork Natural History Museum’s 36th Annual Gala, he won’t just be another celebrity in the Hamptons. He’ll be a man returning to a place that inspired him — and that he, in turn, is helping to inspire.

Corwin, a renowned wildlife biologist, conservationist, and host of the CBS television series Extraordinary World with Jeff Corwin, is one of the honorees at this year’s SOFO Gala, titled “Champions of the Wild: A New Generation.” The evening celebrates those working to empower communities and families to be responsible stewards of the planet — an ethos Corwin has embodied throughout his three-decade career.

“I’m a big fan of the South Fork Natural History Museum,” Corwin says. “I didn’t know too much about it until I filmed there last winter for some of the work they were doing for my CBS series. They were kind enough to honor me this year, so I’ll be going there on my 58th birthday.”

Located at 377 Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike, the South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) & Nature Center is the only state-of-the-art natural history museum on the South Fork of Long Island. Originally founded in 1988 by a group of naturalists as The Nature Clubhouse in Amagansett, SOFO opened its permanent home in May 2005 and has become a hub for environmental education and hands-on discovery. Open seven days a week (except on major holidays), SOFO offers children and adults immersive experiences — ranging from live and recreated natural habitat exhibits and colorful floor-to-ceiling murals to a Marine Touch Tank and aquariums featuring local wildlife.

Extraordinary World, which airs on CBS in New York, explores the intersection of human experience, animal advocacy, and environmental conservation. It’s not just about showcasing wildlife — it’s about connecting viewers to the emotional, social, and ecological stories that shape our planet. One of the standout episodes involved the rescue and rehabilitation of sea turtles that had been cold-stunned on East Coast beaches — a poignant reminder of the toll climate change takes on even the most majestic species.

“We filmed an incredible story about the New York Marine Rescue Center,” Corwin recalls. “These turtles migrate up from the tropics to feed, but when the cold hits, they become stunned and wash up. The team there rescued one that appeared dead — no heartbeat. But we waited, and the next day, it had one beat per minute. That turtle lived. That’s the kind of story we tell.”

Inside the museum, visitors are guided by expert environmental educators through exhibits that include terrariums, a Native Wildflower Garden, and the Iwanowski Family Educational Pond. Outdoors, the learning continues through SOFO’s Native Pollinator Garden, Purple Martin nesting gourd site, and the surrounding 40-acre Vineyard Field Preserve. Guests can explore further by walking the six-mile trail system of the Long Pond Greenbelt, a rare expanse of interconnected ponds, woods, and wetlands teeming with biodiversity.

Corwin’s relationship with nature began far from the red carpets and spotlight of TV. Growing up in Massachusetts, he volunteered at his local wildlife center before working in animal rehabilitation as a teenager. “Those were the catalysts,” he says. “They fired my engine to create the career I have today.”

That career now includes hosting and producing more than a dozen series on major networks, including Wildlife Nation Expedition Florida, a show made in partnership with the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida. The series focuses on Florida’s urgent environmental issues — from habitat loss to sea level rise — and offers a hopeful blueprint for conservation.

Corwin sees SOFO as playing a similarly critical role in the Northeast. “What I love about these institutions is that they’re politically agnostic. They exist to connect you to nature,” he says. “When you meet nature, you care about it. And when you care about it, you protect it.”

He’s quick to point out that the Hamptons, often viewed as a haven for the wealthy, is also home to everyday families, workers, and children who benefit from SOFO’s inclusive programming. “It’s not an exclusive place,” he insists. “It’s for the full kaleidoscope of humanity that finds its way here.”

The July 12 gala is more than just a night of cocktails and conversation. It’s a gathering of changemakers: Honorary Chair Liev Schreiber, hosts like Erica Noble and Ray Iwanowski, Kim and Greg Lippmann, and Susan and David Rockefeller, and philanthropist Jean Shafiroff. Proceeds support SOFO’s educational initiatives and conservation efforts across Long Island.

For Corwin, this recognition is both personal and symbolic. “You can’t protect what you don’t love,” he says. “And you’ll never love it if you don’t get to meet it. SOFO introduces people to nature. That’s how you build stewards of the future.”

He adds with a smile, “And hey — it’s my birthday. What better way to spend it?”

From filming alongside endangered sea turtles to casting a spotlight on unsung environmental heroes, Corwin has dedicated his life to telling nature’s stories. On July 12, in the heart of the Hamptons, one of those stories will be his.