With 44 chapters statewide, Audubon Florida makes use of its annual Meeting occasion as a chance to shine a lightweight on standout initiatives, acknowledge exceptional management, and have a good time what’s doable when chapter members put their ardour into motion. Every year, chapter leaders are invited to appoint their very own chapters or others for awards recognizing excellence in teaching programs, conservation initiatives, and general chapter achievement by the Chapter of the 12 months award. Awards are offered in two classes: one for smaller chapters (beneath 500 members) and one for bigger chapters (over 500 members).
“These awards remind us that conservation isn’t just about birds—it’s about individuals coming collectively to make a distinction, one mission, one partnership, one volunteer hour at a time,” says Chapters Conservation Supervisor Kristen Kosik. “Each chapter represented right here tonight contributes to that larger story.”
Audubon congratulates all honorees, with thanks for the work they do to guard birds and the locations they want throughout the Sunshine State.
This yr introduced in a exceptional vary of nominations — representing artistic approaches, deep partnerships, and significant native affect throughout Florida. Introduced in entrance of a packed home in the course of the Audubon Meeting on October 18, the 2025 chapter award winners are:
Greatest Training Program, Small Chapter: Citrus County Audubon Society for his or her Nature Journaling Program with public faculties
By means of this artistic and hands-on program, chapter volunteers taught center faculty college students the right way to hold a nature journal— combining artwork, science, and statement to construct curiosity and reference to the pure world. Working with a Title I faculty serving various and at-risk college students, they helped college students follow noticing, questioning, and recording particulars about native crops, sparking a way of surprise that may develop right into a lifelong conservation ethic. The mission even expanded right into a chook stroll and is now inspiring lecturers to carry nature into their lecture rooms yr after yr.
Greatest Training Program, Giant Chapter: Orange Audubon Society for his or her Schoolyard Christmas Hen Rely
Greater than 500 college students and practically 30 adults participated this yr to watch, file, and rely birds proper of their schoolyards. Due to Orange Audubon Society members, college students gained confidence as younger citizen scientists, realized to make use of binoculars, and contributed to actual scientific information, all whereas growing a deeper connection to nature.
Greatest Conservation Program, Small Chapter: It is a Tie!
Santa Fe Audubon Society has superior their Southeastern American Kestrel Nest Field Mission, utilizing easy-to-access pole techniques and ultra-light tags to watch fledging success and dispersal patterns, whereas partaking college students, volunteers, and accomplice organizations. The group labored to stability the scientific information assortment with volunteer and neighborhood engagement.
Southeastern Volusia Audubon Society put in a Motus Monitoring Station, becoming a member of a collaborative wildlife monitoring community that displays migratory birds, offering real-time information on timing, routes, and habitat use. By establishing a station in New Smyrna Seaside, the chapter crammed a spot in Florida’s East Coast community, engaged the neighborhood by a Birdathon fundraiser, and partnered with a number of organizations to advance conservation science.
Greatest Conservation Program, Giant Chapter: Duval Audubon
Duval Audubon led Jacksonville’s first-ever Lights Out Proclamation. This milestone is the results of greater than three years of awareness-building, schooling, and collaboration to cut back synthetic gentle air pollution and make town safer for migratory birds touring alongside the Atlantic Flyway.
Small Chapter of the 12 months: Hernando Audubon Society
This chapter has actually expanded its attain and affect over the previous yr by artistic partnerships, youth engagement, and robust neighborhood connections. From their collaboration with the Chinsegut Conservation Heart to outreach and advocacy efforts, Hernando Audubon reveals how even a smaller chapter could make an enormous distinction.
Giant Chapter of the 12 months: Orange Audubon Society
Orange Audubon Society has completed exceptional work this yr, from advancing their nature heart mission on the Lake Apopka North Shore to increasing instructional and conservation applications that attain a whole bunch of individuals, together with youth and underserved communities.
