Hello WLA Friends and Family,
After 12 years of leading nature scavenger hunts, encouraging students to speak in front of their peers, politely declining taxidermy specimens via mail, and celebrating every outreach project sent to me, I am announcing my departure from the Wildlife Leadership Academy.
It has been an absolute privilege to be welcomed into the lives of each alumni as they have gone through their journeys as Conservation Ambassadors. To be able to help foster a student’s love of nature and passion for conservation is a unique role, and these many summers of teaching students how to become involved in their communities has shown me that there is no limit to the creativity, insight, and collaboration our youth show as they complete their outreach. Each year’s outreach books brought new projects, new passions, and new connections that inspired and reinforced how much I love this work and instilled a deep faith that our youth will succeed in all that they do.
Alumni, please know that I am so proud of each and every one of you. Every single student who has had the courage to attend the Academy has already taken steps to make a difference in themselves as well as for their community and the natural world. You are all capable of great things, and remember: your story is incredibly powerful, and only you know best how to tell it.
Call me, text me, email me,
Katie Cassidy
PS – I’m not going far! You can find me with the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper’s Association, starting May 11. As always; you can call me, text me, or email me. My new email is kcassidy@midsusriver.org and I will share out my number as soon as I know it!
Katie Cassidy’s Farewell to the Wildlife Leadership Academy
Posted: May 2, 2026 by Katie Mace
Hello WLA Friends and Family,
After 12 years of leading nature scavenger hunts, encouraging students to speak in front of their peers, politely declining taxidermy specimens via mail, and celebrating every outreach project sent to me, I am announcing my departure from the Wildlife Leadership Academy.
It has been an absolute privilege to be welcomed into the lives of each alumni as they have gone through their journeys as Conservation Ambassadors. To be able to help foster a student’s love of nature and passion for conservation is a unique role, and these many summers of teaching students how to become involved in their communities has shown me that there is no limit to the creativity, insight, and collaboration our youth show as they complete their outreach. Each year’s outreach books brought new projects, new passions, and new connections that inspired and reinforced how much I love this work and instilled a deep faith that our youth will succeed in all that they do.
Alumni, please know that I am so proud of each and every one of you. Every single student who has had the courage to attend the Academy has already taken steps to make a difference in themselves as well as for their community and the natural world. You are all capable of great things, and remember: your story is incredibly powerful, and only you know best how to tell it.
Call me, text me, email me,
Katie Cassidy
PS – I’m not going far! You can find me with the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper’s Association, starting May 11. As always; you can call me, text me, or email me. My new email is kcassidy@midsusriver.org and I will share out my number as soon as I know it!
Category: Youth Blog Tags: featured