Audubon Florida recently honored chapter leaders during our annual Assembly, held October 15–17, 2026. For decades, Audubon Florida has brought together staff, members, partners, and other stakeholders to celebrate the year’s accomplishments and look ahead to upcoming priorities. The three-day event was hosted at the TradeWinds Resort in St. Pete Beach and focused on a theme of Protecting What Connects Us —Water, Wildlife, and Community.
Assembly is our chance to shine a light on standout projects, recognize remarkable leadership, and celebrate what’s possible when chapters put their passion for birds and natural spaces into action.
Each year, chapter leaders are invited to nominate their own chapters, or others, for awards recognizing excellence in education programs, conservation projects, and overall chapter achievement through the Chapter of the Year award. Awards are presented in two categories: one for smaller chapters (under 500 members) and one for larger chapters (over 500 members).
Our awards recognize outstanding work in education, conservation, advocacy, and overall chapter achievement. We also recognize chapters of different sizes, because we know that membership, funding, and volunteer capacity can shape what a chapter is able to accomplish.
Southeast Volusia Audubon Society: Small Chapter Outstanding Education Program
Building on their Plants for Birds work, Southeast Volusia recognized an opportunity to help children learn more about birds themselves and the challenges they face.
A four-person team developed a hands-on program that combines birding, science, technology, games, and outdoor exploration.
Through seven sessions held at their local Elementary school, the Marine Science Center, and in the community, they reached nearly 180 children, many with little or no prior birding experience.
St. Pete Audubon Society – Large Chapter Outstanding Education Program
For 18 years, St. Pete Audubon has been bringing educators together with local scientists and environmental experts to deepen their understanding of Florida’s ecology and give them practical tools to bring conservation into their classrooms and communities.
This year’s theme, “Nature’s Secrets in Your Yard, at School, and at Home,” brought 39 educators together for hands-on experiences exploring native plants, wildlife, habitat conservation, and ways to welcome wildlife into our own spaces.
Hernando Audubon Society – Small Chapter Outstanding Conservation Project
The Weeki Wachee River has faced increasing challenges from nutrient pollution, shoreline erosion, and growing recreational use. Hernando Audubon took the lead in bringing together county and state agencies, environmental organizations, businesses, landowners, recreational users, and other stakeholders for their 2nd Weeki Wachee River Summit. The event provided an opportunity to share updates on restoration efforts, hear directly from stakeholders, and discuss what is needed to improve compliance with the river’s Springs Protection Zone and fertilizer restrictions.
Orange Audubon Society – Large Chapter Outstanding Conservation Project
Located next to the Lake Apopka North Shore and the entrance to the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, Orange Audubon’s new 70-acre property adds an important piece to a landscape that has already seen one of Florida’s most renowned restoration efforts. Orange Audubon has also had a long-standing presence on the Wildlife Drive, helping connect people with the incredible birdlife and conservation story of Lake Apopka.
Through this project, Orange Audubon is expanding that conservation story beyond the Wildlife Drive, working with partners and volunteers to restore upland habitat and create another place for both wildlife and people to experience the Lake Apopka landscape.
Highlands County Audubon – Small Chapter Outstanding Advocacy
As Highlands County Commission explored whether to create a new local land conservation program, Highlands County Audubon stepped up as a visible and consistent voice for conservation. Through community events, public outreach, meetings with elected officials, and partnerships with other local conservation organizations, the chapter helped bring residents into the conversation about what lands and natural resources they value protecting. More than 400 county residents ultimately shared their conservation priorities with county leaders, with protecting threatened and endangered species and wildlife corridors emerging among the top priorities.
St. Pete Audubon Society – Large Chapter Outstanding Advocacy
Over the past year, St. Pete Audubon responded to several significant threats to important coastal habitats, including a proposed music festival on St. Pete Beach during Black Skimmer nesting season. They also advocated against a major film production proposed for Fort De Soto and proposed cuts to two of Pinellas County’s most important natural areas, Shell Key and Weedon Island.
Through public outreach, coalition building, letter-writing campaigns, public meetings, media interviews, and direct engagement with decision makers, the chapter helped mobilize an enormous community response. Their advocacy contributed to the music festival being moved to another venue and the film production being relocated away from Fort De Soto, while strong community opposition helped convince the County to restore funding for Shell Key and Weedon Island for the coming year.
Citrus County Audubon Society – Small Chapter of the Year Award
Citrus County Audubon has shown how a strong, collaborative leadership team can make a chapter more effective and ambitious. By working well together and taking a more strategic approach, the chapter has more than doubled its membership, expanded its community outreach, and begun building impactful conservation projects and advocacy efforts close to home. From engaging thousands of people at community events to creating an educational native plant landscape at a busy county park and helping launch the Welcome Back Songbirds Festival, the chapter is turning that stronger foundation into meaningful action.
West Volusia Audubon Society – Large Chapter of the Year Award
Much of West Volusia Audubon’s work is rooted in its longstanding relationship with Volusia County’s Lyonia Environmental Center. Through this partnership, the chapter has built strong connections with county staff and community members that provide a foundation for its broader conservation and education work throughout the region. That impact is reflected in the fact that LEC’s manager nominated WVAS for this award.
From supporting scrub-jay research at Lyonia Preserve to engaging residents in native plant gardening, environmental education, and local conservation, WVAS shows how strong local partnerships can create opportunities that extend far beyond any one location.
