Audubon Florida 2025 Assembly

Our line-up of learning sessions included: 

• Now More Than Ever: The Importance of Local Conservation Action
• Federal Conservation in Dynamic Times: Audubon’s Roles as Witness, Flamekeeper, Pacesetter, and Convener
• Get the Word Out: Share Conservation Stories, Recruit Volunteers, and Grow Your Community

 This year's theme is Power of Birds, Power of Us: Science and Joy as Catalysts for Conservation. Our Keynote Speaker is Rosemary Mosco, acclaimed author and illustrator.

Participants enjoyed an early bird discount (limited time only) and the opportunity to see birds on one of our field trips, or participate in our (NEW) nature journaling activity (fee of $10 includes materials). Our host chapter (Orange Audubon Society) has recommended this list of optional field trip destinations for anyone who arrives early on Thursday (or wishes to explore more after the event ends on Saturday.)

Assembly is a great opportunity to network with Audubon members, staff, and volunteers across the state. This year's venue is Mission Resort + Club in Howey-in-the-Hills near Lake Apopka.

Download the Assembly schedule here.

Field trips

• Palatlakaha Environmental and Agricultural Reserve Park Wildlife Conservation Area (PEAR Park), a 268-acre Lake County wildlife conservation area made up of scrub and sandhill restoration.
• Green Mountain Scenic Overlook & Trailhead, an experience that provides expansive views of Lake Apopka and the North Shore Restoration Area.
• Trimble Park, an Orange County park located between Lake Beauclair and Lake Carlton near Mount Dora.

Learning Sessions

• Now More Than Ever: The Importance of Local Conservation Action
• Federal Conservation in Dynamic Times: Audubon’s Roles as Flame-keeper, Pacesetter, and Convener
• Get the Word Out: Share Conservation Stories, Recruit Volunteers, and Grow Your Community

Keynote Presentation

Rosemary is an author, illustrator, and speaker whose work connects people with the natural world. She’s written and drawn for The New York Times, Audubon, Rewiring America, the PBS Kids show Elinor Wonders Why, Ranger Rick, and more, and makes a regular comic strip in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Living Bird magazine. She creates science books for kids and adults and the nature comic Bird and Moon, which won the National Cartoonists Society’s award for Best Online Short Form Comic and was the subject of an award-winning museum exhibit. Her climate change comics were exhibited at AAAS headquarters and the Peabody Essex Museum. She gives engaging talks and workshops to groups of all ages. Rosemary is a graduate of the Field Naturalist Program. She judged a bird tattoo contest (twice!) and co-founded an event celebrating invertebrate butts.