Scholarships and Grants

 Audubon of Southwest Florida Programs
Funded by The Charles Foster Conservation Fund and donations from you.

Florida Gulf Coast University Tuition Scholarship 

Audubon of Southwest Florida is pleased to offer a merit-based scholarship for academic year 2010/11, of up to $5000 for tuition, books, and fees, for a second year (or beyond) environmental studies major, or major in one of the natural sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University. Applicants must demonstrate future plans for a career in environmental studies. The applicant must be a member of Audubon of Southwest Florida (or the son or daughter of an Audubon member) at the time of application, and if awarded the scholarship, he/she must have been a member for at least six months prior to receiving the funds.

To apply: submit a letter explaining why you believe you should earn the scholarship and describing future educational and professional plans, a resume, a college transcript, copy of current membership card (or other documentation of membership), and two letters of reference to the address below by July 30, 2010.  Finalists will be required to have a personal interview with our education committee. The awardee will be expected to give a presentation to the Audubon of Southwest Florida monthly meeting during the course of the academic year.

For further information, contact the Education Committee, Audubon of Southwest Florida at edu@AudubonSWFL.org

Submit application materials to:

Attention: Education Committee
Audubon of Southwest Florida, Inc.
Post Office Box 61041
Fort Myers, Florida 33906-1041

Audubon of Southwest Florida Scholarship for Edison College Students

Audubon of Southwest Florida is pleased to offer a merit-based academic scholarship, of up to $2000 for tuition, books, and fees, for a second semester (or beyond) student with an emphasis on natural sciences at Edison College in Ft. Myers. Applicants must have completed six hours of natural sciences or geography (or completed 3 hrs and currently be enrolled in 3 hrs) and have future plans for a career related to environmental studies. The recipient must be a member of Audubon of Southwest Florida (or the son or daughter of an Audubon member) at the time of application, and if awarded the scholarship, he/she must and have been a member for at least six months prior to receiving the funds.

For further information and deadlines contact the Education Committee, at edu(at)AudubonSWFL.org. To apply: submit a letter explaining why you believe you should receive the scholarship and describing future educational and professional plans, a resume, a college transcript, and three letters of reference. Finalists will be required to have a personal interview with the education committee.

Cornell Home Study Birding Course Scholarship Program

Audubon of Southwest Florida is offering its members who are experienced volunteer docents at important birding areas in Lee Country a scholarship to Cornell Lab of Ornithology Home Study Course in Bird Biology.  This scholarship is also being funded through  the the Charles Foster Conservation Fund, and only Audubon members who have applied for but not received a scholarship for the course from Cornell are eligible to apply.  Contact Teri Heath, Chair, Education Committee, Audubon of Southwest Florida at edu@AudubonSWFL.org for complete information about this opportunity.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Home Study Course in Bird Biology is a basic ornithology class designed to provide comprehensive, college-level information on birds and their environments in a manner accessible to nonscientists and teachers the world over.  It covers all major topics in ornithology, from anatomy and physiology to ecology, behavior, and conservation biology. 

For more information about the Cornell Lab Home Study Course in Bird Biology, visit the web site at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/homestudy/.

Florida Master Naturalist Program Tuition Scholarship Program

Audubon of Southwest Florida, through the Charles Foster Conservation Fund, is pleased to offer $225 tuition scholarships for teachers and volunteer docents of environmental centers in Southwest Florida, who are members of an Audubon chapter in SW Florida, to participate in the University of Florida's Master Naturalist Program (FMNP).  The FMNP is an adult education extension program designed for people who are interested in learning more about Florida’s environment, seeking educational contact hours, or wishing to increase their knowledge for use in education programs as volunteers, employees, and ecotourism guides.  The FMNP includes courses in 3 subject areas – Freshwater Wetlands, Coastal Systems, and Upland Habitats.  Students receive 40 educational contact hours including classroom learning, field trips, and practical experience in interpretation. Students receive detailed course manuals and, upon completion, certificates, patches, and pins denoting their area of expertise (e.g., Wetlands Naturalist) and are registered in the University of Florida database of Master Naturalists.

Each scholarship recipient is asked to complete a course-related special project which contributes to the mission of Audubon.  The project may be something related to education, restoration, or conservation that focuses on wildlife and natural habitats (building/erecting bird houses, shorebird conservation efforts, and public awareness efforts concerned with protecting endangered species or their habitats are examples of acceptable projects.)

If you are interested in a scholarship, please submit a letter, along with a brief resume and your project idea to edu@audubonswfl.org.

Visit the Florida Master Naturalist Program to learn more about the program.
 

Support Audubon of Southwest Florida's
Scholarship Program 

Please send your tax deducible contribution to support this program to:

Audubon of Southwest Florida, Inc.
Post Office Box 61041
Fort Myers, Florida 33906-1041

  More Financial Aid Resources

The Environmental Scholarship Guide

This web site offers a practical game plan for people who are trying to track down and compete successfully for scholarships related to environmental careers. 

Izaak Walton League Scholarship Program

This program serves students enrolled in programs that may include, but are not limited to: environmental science/engineering/education, natural resource management, forestry, wildlife, fisheries, parks and recreation, range management, and soils, and other related sciences such as ecology, biology (conservation/field/marine), geology, hydrology, and zoology, including mammalogy, ornithology, and