Conservation Leadership Initiative
Audubon Florida’s Mentoring Program

     Audubon developed a mentoring program for college students called Conservation Leadership Initiative (CLI). In 2010 Florida Audubon the program matched young conservation and environmental students with experienced Audubon leaders for a day at Assembly. For a few years, the program was expanded to a three day event at the annual Assembly. In 2019, Audubon changed its (CLI) from a three day program to a full year training fellowship for Florida students. CLI brings together 25 college participants who demonstrate great potential as environmental leaders, pairing each with a mentor and providing events and workshops to showcase conservation careers.

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     Bren Curtis of Peace River Audubon mentored Hannah Kenzie in 2018, Allison Ryun in 2019, Edwin Wilke in 2020, Madison Gonzalez (Maddie) in 2023 and Emily Longstreet in 2024.  See their stories below.

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     Updates on the students:

• Hannah Kenzie kayaks with Get Up And Go Kayaking - Tampa Bay and she is engaged to John Miller and are active with Give (Growth International Volunteer Excursions), Edwin Wilke is a masters student in Environmental Science & Policy at University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Green Bay, WI. Allison Ryun completed her first triathlon in 1hr 45 minutes in Maple Grove, MN in August 2026. Last year she married Trystan Bachman August 2nd and settled in Kasota, MN. Maddie is a Biologist I in the Coastal Resources section with Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM). Emily Longstreet is finishing a masters in Jersey, Channel Islands, United Kingdom and starting a Marine Biology Science Teacher position at Imagine High School.