Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Awarded $100K from the Collier Community Foundation

Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary was awarded $100K as part of the Collier Community Foundation’s 2025 Celebration of Philanthropy on October 17. One of four local non-profit organizations selected from dozens of applications, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary will use the funds to expand and transform aging campus spaces to provide immersive learning opportunities in every season.

“With a proud 70-year legacy of education and conservation, we recognize the need to elevate our impact to meet today’s challenges and better serve our community,” says Sanctuary Director Keith Laakkonen. “The Collier Community Foundation’s 40th Anniversary Grant is helping us realize a visionary transformation of our campus—featuring a new Outdoor Classroom and a state-of-the-art Research Laboratory.”

Audubon's renowned 2.25-mile boardwalk offers an immersive experience to nearly 80,000 annual visitors. Dynamic programming and dedicated volunteers deepen these connections, while thousands of students and summer campers experience outdoor exploration during field trips to the Sanctuary. Sustainably built with nature and people in mind, the campus infrastructure improvements will expand space to connect more learners of all ages with nature in new and meaningful ways, as well as conduct innovative science and management to protect vulnerable wildlife and their habitats.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary’s mission is to support the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems throughout the Western Everglades using science-driven land management and education to protect birds, other wildlife, and people.

Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and recognized as a Wetland of Distinction by the Society of Wetland Scientists, has been an Audubon-protected site for more than 100 years. Established in 1954, the Sanctuary protects 13,000 acres of wilderness habitat, including the world’s largest remaining old-growth bald cypress forest. An estimated 80,000 visitors annually explore the Sanctuary’s boardwalk through ancient forest, marsh, and upland habitats.