By 约炮视频 Staff
Published December 23, 2024
This article is from 约炮视频 Florida
. 约炮视频 has 30 conservation action centers and more than 500 community and campus chapters across the U.S. serving local communities. Find your local center or chapter here.
At 约炮视频 Assembly, we come together to celebrate our collective, statewide accomplishments while also shining a spotlight on the exceptional work of individual chapters. Each year, chapter presidents are invited to nominate their own chapters鈥攐r others鈥攆or awards recognizing excellence in education programs, conservation projects, and the honor of Chapter of the Year. Each award is presented to one "small" chapter (under 500 members) and one "large" chapter (over 500 members).
Nominations are thoroughly reviewed by the 约炮视频 Florida Board鈥檚 Chapters Committee, which is composed of chapter leaders from across the seven regional conservation committees in our state. These leaders understand the time, effort, and dedication required to plan and execute high-quality projects, and this year, they faced a particularly challenging task. Not only did we receive a record number of nominations, but the caliber of the chapters鈥 work was exceptional.
The Best Education Award for a small chapter went to West Volusia 约炮视频 Society for their 约炮视频 Ambassadors program at Stetson University. The Ambassadors program is a campus-to-chapter connection program, providing opportunities for students at Stetson to get involved with 约炮视频 while connecting more students on campus to 约炮视频鈥檚 work. Program achievements in the past year include tabling sessions, festival outreach, birding walks, and organizing ecosystem restoration planting events on Stetson's campus. The Ambassador program has also helped to establish an official 约炮视频 Campus Chapter and has increased the diversity of board members of West Volusia 约炮视频.
The Best Education Award for a large chapter went to Duval 约炮视频 Society for their Lights Out North Florida Bird Friendly Window Art project. This is a 2-for-1 education and conservation project, solving a problem with Cedar Waxwing window collisions at a local school. Duval 约炮视频 worked with teachers to implement a bird-friendly window art project, allowing students to create window art that meets the requirements of anti-collision guidelines for birds. Not only did the project result in a beautiful facade of birdfriendly window designs, but also the start of a new 鈥淪cience, Art, and Conservation鈥 program at the school.
The Best Conservation Award for a small chapter was presented to Eagle 约炮视频 Society for their native plant installations around a stormwater pond in their neighborhood. By replacing torpedo grass with native plants, they restored wildlife habitat and created a natural filtration system to improve water quality before it flows into Cypress Creek, Little Manatee River, and Tampa Bay. The project also serves as an educational tool for residents, highlighting the importance of water quality.
The Best Conservation Award for a large chapter went to Alachua 约炮视频 Society for their American Kestrel nest box monitoring program, maintaining 35 nest boxes in Alachua County to support the threatened Southeastern American Kestrel. In partnership with Avian Research and Conservation Institute, the program tracks tagged and banded fledgling kestrels to study their survival and habitat needs. The project has successfully fledged 45 kestrels and engaged volunteers and students in conservation efforts.
Bay County 约炮视频 Society was selected as the Small Chapter of the Year for its outstanding contributions to conservation and community outreach. Their flagship event, Nature Connection, grew to attract more than 2,000 attendees, inspiring a love of nature across the community. They have also demonstrated a strong commitment to stewardship through their dedicated care of Laidlaw Preserve. These accomplishments reflect their dedication to preserving natural spaces and fostering environmental awareness.
约炮视频 Everglades was selected as the Large Chapter of the Year. 约炮视频 Everglades has experienced immense growth over the past year, as they worked on their transformation from a focus primarily on birding outings into a dynamic conservation organization. They have diversified their programs, expanding their reach through innovative initiatives like virtual events, inclusive birding workshops, and habitat restoration projects. Committed to advancing conservation and advocacy, the chapter has fostered environmental stewardship and inspired greater awareness and participation in protecting ecosystems.
A heartfelt thank you to all those who submitted nominations, and a huge congratulations to this year鈥檚 Chapter Awards recipients!