A part of the Texas Women in Conservation Program, Audubon’s Conservation Leaders Program for Young Women (ACL) is an exciting partnership between schools in the Young Women’s Preparatory Network and Audubon State staff, Texas Centers, and local Audubon Chapters.

Audubon’s work, both nationally and in Texas, is known to be focused on protecting birds and the places they need to survive. In order to meet these goals, we approach our work from five angles; Climate Change, Water, Coasts, Working Lands, and Bird-friendly Communities. Each year, the Audubon's Conservation Leaders program tackles the science, conservation, and the broad career options within these strategies. 

As with all aspects of the world amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Conservation Leaders Program has gone through substantial change over the last few years. Traditionally, students meet with leading female scientists, explore Texas’s diverse ecosystems, and learn about career paths in various conservation fields. When the pandemic hit, we had to forgo in-person exploration, but students still had meaningful, fun, virtual programs from the safety of their own homes. We learned so much about creating relevant, engaging virtual programs. Now, as the pandemic recedes, we are delighted to move the Conservation Leaders program into the future with a hybrid program. Students will gather in-person with their school cohorts for field trips but also interact with experts and participants from other cities through Zoom meetings.  Additionally, we are delighted to announce that we will again be hosting overnight camps in summer 2023, in partnership with the Welder Foundation!

In the 2022-2023 school year, Conservation Leaders will take a deep dive into the Coastal resources of Texas through hands-on, minds-on activities. We will work with a variety of other organizations to bring Coastal issues alive for students across the state. We're looking forward to working with American Bird Conservancy, Nurdle Patrol, SPLASh, and other fantastic organizations. 

Both in-person and virtual programs will help students develop leadership and communication expertise, to help them to become the very best leaders in their academic and professional careers they can be once they graduate from High School.

Audubon Texas is offering the program in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Austin's program will be lead by our partners at Travis Audubon Society. Program costs and materials are 100% subsidized by Audubon's generous donors and grants. In return, participants are expected to come prepared to each virtual or in-person session and bring a positive, enthusiastic attitude to each experience, especially the intensive camp portion. 

Application for the 2022-2023 school year is now OPEN! Apply HERE. 

Email Yvette Stewart for application questions.

Quotes & Photos from Audubon's Conservation Leaders Program for Young Women Past Years

Dallas students get to hold Box Turtles at Trinity River Audubon Center, June 2022

Participants remove Johnson Grass and plant native prairie grasses at our Trinity River Audubon Center, July 2021

"The program has helped me realize that protecting the natural world is important because of all the beautiful wildlife. We, as humans, should respect other species and their environments." Brenda C., 2019-2020 participant

Houston students learn how to test water quality, February 2022

“I really loved doing the conservation work at the sanctuary. I hope to pursue conservation as a career so it was nice to literally be hands on and actually see our work and its direct impact.” - 2017 participant

Moving Firewood for Team Night, December 2021

San Antonio student embarking on a Kayak adventure, April 2022

San Antonio 2019-2020 participants learning about the benefits of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, February 2020

Houston students conquer their fear of heights to climb the Brazos Bend State Park Observation Tower, July 2021

Women scientists from 9 different backgrounds participated in our 2019-2020 Career Panel in Houston, February 2020

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Audubon’s Conservation Leaders Program for Young Women is a part of a greater effort to raise the stature of women’s roles in conservation, support girls and younger women in environmental sciences, and engage women in important conservation issues in Texas. And it can’t be done without your support.