Orange Audubon Society Inc.

Orange Audubon Society’s (OAS) ultimate goal is to protect and preserve wildlife and the environment to enhance the quality of life for future generations. We seek to instill in the residents of Central Florida an environmental ethic and engage them in positive efforts toward environmental protection. OAS’ long-term goals and activities directly address habitat preservation and restoration but also water and energy issues. OAS members strive to learn the science behind the issues and convey that information to the public through educational programs and to engage residents in providing input to decision-makers. Our potable water supply, both its quality and quantity, is constantly under threat by the rapid population growth in Central Florida. We work to promote water use efficiency and also energy efficiency as well as renewable energy as positive steps to address climate change. In working to protect habitat, OAS has ongoing goals to encourage local government acquisition and management of environmentally sensitive lands. In the Central Florida region, OAS focuses on five areas: the Econlockhatchee River, Lake Apopka, Wekiva River/St. Johns River basins, the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern, and the Butler Chain of Lakes Outstanding Florida Water. OAS works with key local preserves — Mead Botanical Garden, Orlando Wetlands Park, the Lake Apopka North Shore Restoration Area, and the Wekiva River Basin parks — to maintain and improve wildlife habitat and water quality, and to keep local legislators informed about our concerns on environmental issues. OAS supports increased statewide funding for purchase and management of additional conservation lands and protection of existing parks and preserves. A major long-term OAS goal is the establishment of a nature and environmental education center that would greatly enhance OAS' ability to reach and teach visitors, including school children, about nature and how to preserve it. The center will demonstrate positive models in building construction and native plant landscaping. Other OAS goals are to sustain and diversify our membership and maintain financial stability. Finally, we are preparing for a capital campaign toward a nature center and an endowment for operating expenses.

The following are specific strategies with Indicators to be detailed in the next session: 1. Orange Audubon Society's (OAS) co-sponsorship of wildlife festivals gets people outdoors and involved in nature and learning about Central Florida’s special places. As people have great experiences, they are more likely to work to protect these places.  2. OAS has advocated since the 1990s for public access to the 20,000-acre Lake Apopka North Shore for birding, photography, hiking, and cycling. OAS supports the St. Johns River Water Management District as it provides public access. 3. Birding Festival: OAS works to protect the Lake Apopka North Shore through birding ecotourism which is bringing in birders from other areas who contribute to the local economy by spending money on hotels, food, gas, etc. OAS’ 4th annual North Shore Birding Festival in January 16-20, 2020 was advertised nationally, as the 5th annual festival, scheduled for January 21-25, 2021, will be.  4. OAS’ monthly programs, held at Harry P. Leu Gardens (Orlando), are free, open to the public and advertised in local media. Researchers present about endangered species and other natural history topics. Topics are appreciated by members and other attendees, and this fills a programming niche distinct from other local environmental groups. 5. OAS’ many field trips, including overnight trips and instructional classes and workshops instill in participants a sense of inspiration, care and ultimately conservation ethics. 6. OAS holds a nature photography competition, the Chertok Florida Native Nature Photography Contest, which in 2020 will be in its 32nd year. In promotion of the Youth category of the contest, OAS holds two Youth and Family Photography workshops per year. 7. OAS provides to local elementary school classrooms the Audubon Adventures activity kits, which are nature materials emphasizing STEM-based topics (science, technology, engineering and math) and aligned with the Florida state standards. OAS offers youth field trips and youth and family photo workshops to help young people connect with nature. 8. OAS participates in Audubon Florida’s Conservation Leadership Initiative (CLI) at the statewide Audubon Assembly. Matching college students with mentors from local Audubon chapters, CLI guides students into conservation careers. OAS reaches out to participating students from colleges in Central Florida and involves them in chapter activities. 9. "Citizen Science" activities include Audubon Florida’s Eagle Watch and Jay Watch, the Great Backyard Bird Count and Christmas Bird Counts. OAS publicizes these activities to its members and others. Through data from these programs and other bird surveys, OAS provides science-based data to county and city elected officials, staff, and advisory committees to affect decision making on issues relating to environmental protection. 10. OAS provides an informative monthly newsletter through an email blast and makes the newsletter also available on its website. OAS shares information through its Facebook page and implements measures to engage and retain members.

OAS has been successful in developing a large number of monthly programs, classes, and events, all scheduled in advance and printed in an annual brochure available each September to members and the public. Additional details on programs appear in the monthly OASis newsletter, on the OAS website and on Meetup and Facebook, and are sent to local newspapers. The OASis newsletter is sent electronically to an email list of nearly 2000 people, of which nearly 40% open the email.  OAS co-sponsors three outdoor nature/wildlife festivals and participates in other local events, all of which allow us to conduct conservation outreach. Annually OAS holds a board planning meeting that includes review and revision of strategic long-term mission and financial goals. The OAS conservation committee collaborates on regional conservation efforts with other Audubon chapters in Florida. Approximately 1/3 of the OAS board has served on the board for 15 years or more. Other individuals, upon leaving the board, continue as committee members and volunteers. These dedicated individuals provide a stability and institutional memory that has allowed a continuous expansion of activities.

Orange Audubon Society (OAS) seeks to establish a nature and environmental education center in an area that has long been a strategic focus. OAS continues working with municipalities, state agencies and other nonprofit organizations to establish interim and detailed plans and move into a capital campaign. The proposed nature and environmental education center will provide a home base for OAS, which currently lacks an office or permanent location, and will allow OAS to provide nature education to school children, families and outdoor enthusiasts and ecotourists. Once purchasing a site or solidifying a partnership with a municipality to jointly manage a site, OAS will hire its first employee, an educator and site manager. OAS' president and treasurer both have received fundraising training, and based on this, these chapter leaders believe that OAS members will contribute more than they do currently once a site is secured, and fund-raising from foundations and outside groups will finally be possible.