This year, the Florida Wildlife Federation launched a new initiative in our monthly newsletter: Conservation Champions, a series spotlighting the Floridians whose work, passion, and dedication make our state a better place for wildlife and the people who call it home. Each month, we highlighted a different role model, ranging from grassroots leaders, scientists, storytellers, and community advocates who inspire others to take action and protect what makes Florida wild. This blog brings together all of our 2025 Conservation Champions in one place, celebrating the people who helped shape a remarkable year for conservation.
In 2025, FWF honored seven extraordinary Floridians whose commitment to conservation reflects the diversity, resilience, and creativity that fuel our movement. From restoring coastal ecosystems to guiding river explorations, from advancing environmental education to capturing the magic of Florida’s night skies, these Champions embody what it means to safeguard our natural heritage.
Logan Richardson
Eagle Scout & Conservation Educator
Logan’s conservation journey began in his hometown of Lithia, Florida, where his Eagle Scout project partnered with Florida Wildlife Federation and Lithia Springs Conservation Park to raise awareness of one of Florida’s keystone species: the gopher tortoise. He led the installation of educational signs throughout the park that explain the tortoise’s vital ecological role and provide guidance on how park visitors can protect burrows and minimize disturbance.
Logan’s leadership and passion for outdoor ethics show how one individual can make a big difference in wildlife conservation. Through his outreach and tangible action, he helps Floridians connect with the hidden ecosystems beneath our feet and inspires others to do the same.
Benji Studt
Environmental Educator, Photographer, & Outreach Leader
Benji is a gifted educator whose creativity and enthusiasm make environmental learning unforgettable. Through hands-on programs, wildlife photography, and community outreach, he helps young people build meaningful connections with Florida’s natural world.
His work emphasizes that today’s students are tomorrow’s conservation leaders and that early exposure to nature can spark a lifelong passion for protecting it.
Shana Phelan
Marine Biologist & Owner, Pura Vida Divers
As a lifelong diver and educator, Shana has dedicated her career to protecting Florida’s treasured coral reefs. Through Pura Vida Divers, she teaches thousands of people each year about responsible diving, marine life conservation, and the importance of healthy reef systems. Shana’s leadership shines in her advocacy for reef-safe recreation, hurricane recovery efforts, citizen science programs, and education experiences that help people fall in love with the underwater world.
Her work reinforces a simple but powerful truth: when people experience Florida’s marine ecosystems firsthand, they become their strongest advocates.
Claude Ward
Business Owner, Land Steward & Conservation Ambassador
Claude’s conservation journey is rooted in his decades-long commitment to Florida and the land he calls home. As a longtime entrepreneur and supporter of FWF, he and his wife April have intentionally preserved their two-acre wetland property and purchased 50 further acres of longleaf pine and scrub in Gilchrist County, creating a haven for gopher tortoises, deer, owls and pileated woodpeckers.
Through his business, Claude turned conservation into culture: in 2018 his company adopted the threatened gopher tortoise as a mascot “Tater,” with plush toys sold to raise funds for tortoise-conservation efforts.
Karen Chadwick
Eco-Guide, River Advocate, & Owner, NorthStar Charters
Karen has dedicated her life to helping people experience Florida’s waterways responsibly. Through guided eco-tours on the Matanzas River and Pellicer Creek, she blends history, ecology, and conservation into immersive experiences that deepen visitors’ appreciation for local ecosystems.
Her advocacy for sustainable boating and watershed protection reinforces the message that stewardship starts on the water and that healthy rivers sustain wildlife, communities, and future generations.
Linda Stanley
Fisheries Advocate & Community Leader
Linda Stanley was a guiding force in Florida’s conservation community for decades, including many years serving on the board of the Florida Wildlife Federation.
She channeled that leadership into high-impact campaigns, notably advocating to remove the Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam and restore the Ocklawaha River, and co-founding the Friends of Corbett to protect the JW Corbett Wildlife Management Area and launch youth conservation programs. We remember Linda through her legacy that will continue to inspire new generations of conservationists to maintain hope, build consensus, and keep pushing forward.
Anthony Sleiman
Conservation & Night Sky Photographer
Anthony’s stunning nightscapes reveal a Florida many people never see and one where the stars, forests, beaches, and wetlands glow with natural wonder. His work highlights the importance of protecting dark skies for wildlife like sea turtles and migratory birds, and for the human need to connect with the night.
Anthony not only inspires through his art, but shares his work to advance nonprofit missions and offers his expertise to help other aspiring photographers.
Why Conservation Champions Matter
Each of our 2025 honorees brings something unique to Florida’s conservation movement — yet they all share a profound commitment to protecting the places we treasure. Collectively, they have:
- Educated thousands of Floridians about wildlife and ecosystems
- Guided meaningful outdoor experiences that build stewardship
- Advanced community-based conservation solutions
- Amplified the importance of healthy rivers, reefs, forests, and night skies
- Inspired people of all ages to get outside and get involved
Their stories remind us that conservation is a shared responsibility, and one that requires science, creativity, collaboration, and heart.
