LEARN HOW TO BE A MORE ENGAGED, EDUCATED AND EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE!

Become a lifelong champion for birds, other wildlife and South Florida’s natural places.

Apply today for our empowering FREE 2026 High School program featuring online classes, field trips, deep dives with local experts and hands-on advocacy campaigns.

Pine Rocklands by Federico Acevedo

Biscayne Bay at Sunrise by Ana Lima

Great Egret in the Everglades by Federico Acevedo

South Florida High School students who love the natural world can now foster “conservation through community” and earn service hours via the 3rd annual Summer Edition of the award-winning Tropical Audubon Ambassador Program. The high school version of the environmental series is intended to empower a new generation of young leaders to become more engaged, educated and effective environmental advocates.

New this Summer: more in-person opportunities to network with fellow ambassadors!

Scheduled for July 7 - August 1, 2026, the program’s “Bending the Curve” curriculum is designed to inspire students to activate their “Tropical Audubon Ambassador” education in a concerted effort to halt and reverse biodiversity loss across South Florida.

Learning is structured with a virtual Zoom component for remote flexibility, and with in-person events to enhance networking and provide tangible experiences.

Aspiring High School Ambassadors will receive comprehensive advocacy training from environmental experts, will gain a deeper understanding of our region’s indigenous wildlife and The Everglades, Biscayne Bay, Pine Rocklands and Tropical Hardwood Hammocks. Field Trip opportunities to Everglades National Park and an additional local ecosystem will animate their studies.

Ambassadors will have more opportunities this year to network with each other, with a choice to attend the opening and closing sessions in person or virtually.

Tropical Audubon Society’s High School Ambassador Program is FREE thanks to our Conservation Sponsors Everglades National Park and Miami-Dade County’s Environmentally Endangered Lands Program, and to the financial support of Coconut Grove Garden Club, The Everglades Foundation and The Miami Foundation.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Join this session virtually or in person. Discover the complexity of our South Florida ecosystems with a special emphasis on the Everglades, Biscayne Bay, Pine Rocklands and Tropical Hardwood Hammocks. Explore the science behind what makes South Florida ecosystems unique, the factors that threaten their stability, and their economic, cultural and ecological importance. Learn how to contribute to community science and enhance knowledge of our local biodiversity.
Retrace South Florida’s development timeline. Discover which development decisions were most impactful, the origins of invasive species, and dive into the water resource power struggle.
Discover how Climate Change impacts South Florida as an intensifier of our region’s existing environmental challenges — from water quality to invasive species. Discuss our region’s future in the face of Climate Change, and learn about taking personal action to help combat Climate Change, “bending the curve” to slow current trends.
From Manatees to Florida Panthers, South Florida is home to an array of iconic wildlife. Learn about our region’s imperiled species, the events that led to their decline, and local conservation efforts to protect them.
Learn about the crucial role environmental justice plays in environmental restoration and advocacy. Examine how environmental challenges are unequally distributed among South Florida communities, the reasons behind this disparity, and the efforts underway to balance it more equitably.
Gain knowledge about current protections and restoration efforts taking place in our local ecosystems. Discuss the efforts and policies that are working well, and what needs to be done to protect and restore Miami-Dade County’s natural heritage. Learn how to engage in current efforts, and share ideas with others in the community.
Acquire skills to participate more fully in public discourse and advocacy campaigns. Learn pertinent legal processes and governmental structures, along with the roles, rights and responsibilities of community members.
Join this session virtually or in person. Learn how an environmental advocacy campaign works in this introduction to campaign strategy; how to develop a strategy for change; how to involve your community, supporters and detractors; and the power of one’s personal story. Practice strategies for campaign design, and frame a campaign on an issue of personal importance

Click here to join the waitlist for our 2026 program

WHO CAN JOIN the Tropical Audubon Ambassador Program High School Edition?

The Tropical Audubon Society High School Ambassador Program is open to any incoming or current high school student, or any recent 2026 graduate. Waiver Required.

BY JOINING YOU WILL

Play an active role in shaping conservation in Miami-Dade County
Become part of a like-minded community that is passionate about South Florida’s natural places and the wildlife who rely on them
Earn up to 31 hours of community service

YOU WILL LEARN

*Naturalist Roger Hammer on an Everglades field trip with Tropical Audubon Ambassadors.*

How high school students can engage with elected officials, along with an overview of our civic structure at the federal, state, and county levels.
An introduction to South Florida’s ecosystems, with a special emphasis on the Everglades, Biscayne Bay, Pine Rocklands, and Tropical Hardwood Hammocks.
South Florida’s history of development and how to “bend the curve” to ensure a better future for our region.
How development and policy decisions impact birds, other wildlife, our human communities and water resources.
How Climate Change impacts South Florida at the local level as an intensifier of our region’s existing environmental challenges — from water quality to carbon sequestration – and how we must “bend the curve” to reverse current trends.
Which local conservation efforts are working well and how to enhance them.

AMBASSADOR BENEFITS

Access to monthly advocacy newsletter
Action alerts on critical advocacy actions
Monthly action calls
Field trip to Everglades National Park and A.D. (Doug) Barnes Park to expand your understanding of the environment you are helping to protect.
Leadership development opportunities
Access to a toolbox of resources
Discussions with local experts

LEARN FROM OUR EXPERT

Daniel John Mlodozeniec

Daniel John Mlodozeniec joined Tropical Audubon Society in March 2025 as Education Director. The Western New York native brings with him an impressive expertise in environmental education, from directing summer nature camps, community science projects, afterschool STEM classes, and programs for youth and adults. He especially enjoys leading bird-themed programs, most notably “owl prowls.”

In addition to his considerable work experience in WNY, Daniel, who goes by “DJ,” enjoyed a stint at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia as an Environmental Education Coordinator, designing and leading programs to attract visitors to the refuge, and teach them about swamp ecology. He also helped promote the Okefenokee Swamp as a potential UNESCO World Heritage Site.

DJ was introduced to the Everglades as part of his studies at the University at Buffalo, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies. He immediately fell in love with the River of Grass and would thereafter return to South Florida regularly to deepen his understanding of the Everglades.

He’s now pouring his passion for South Florida’s unique ecosystems into his environmental education role, and strongly believes that by connecting locals to their natural world, he’s fostering a sense of care, curiosity, and belonging, which in turn may inspire conservation advocacy.

In his free time, DJ enjoys camping, canoeing, fishing, wildlife photography and anything that involves outdoor adventure.