At this KAO Executive Board meeting, our Officers will review and amend the KAO Bylaws for the upcoming Academic Year. The Bylaws will be shared with the chapter for additional amendments and approvals on August 23. Also at this meeting, our Executive Board Officer positions will be selected through chance drawing and renewal of terms. If you are interested in an applying for a officer position, please reach out to our KAO advisor by August 19, 2024 at ruby.cox@unf.edu. 

UNF's Environmental Honor Society is supported by the Institute of Environmental Research and Education (IERE) and will be hosting this meeting in the IERE office conference room located in Osprey Commons, Building 16, Suite 3111 (3rd floor above the Osprey Cafe). 

Come out to this open Q&A about how to get involved in UNF KAO!

UNF's Environmental Honor Society is supported by the Institute of Environmental Research and Education (IERE) and we will be hosting our interest meeting in the IERE office conference room located in Osprey Commons, Building 16, Suite 3111 (3rd floor above the Osprey Cafe). 

At this meeting we will be going over the requirements for KAO, our current bylaws, and introducing our officers for the upcoming 2024-2025 year. 

This event is to welcome our new members to the Chi Chapter. Open to all members, but RSVP required for those included in ceremony. 

UNF's Environmental Honor Society is supported by the Institute of Environmental Research and Education (IERE), who's faculty advisors will be coming out to award the acceptance letters to our new members. This event is open to all KAO members, but new members who would like to be included in the ceremony must contact KAO Advisor ruby.cox@unf.edu by September 12.

This event is to welcome our new members to the Chi Chapter. Open to all members to volunteer. This is a great way to earn all of your professional development and service requirements for the semester. 

UNF IERE is a proud partner of the Jacksonville Environmental Symposium for over 10 years. This is a great opportunity to volunteer for free admission to the event, network with environmental professionals, attend informational sessions about our current environmental efforts and more!

If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please reach out to Ruby Cox at ruby.cox@unf.edu so we can get you signed up. 

This event has limited volunteer opportunities so be sure to sign up in advance to save your place! We look forward to seeing you there. 

The UNF KAO chapter connected with UNF Wetlands Club to go on a Wetlands Walk in UNF's Sawmill Slough Preserve. This walk was lead by the Institue of Environmental Research and Education (IERE) Community Council Chair, Rhodes Robinson, retired Wetlands Biologist and major supporter of UNF Environmental student success!

This walk led the students to learn about everything in the Wetland ecosystem, from the soil under their feet to the birds and loblolly pines that reach for the sky. 

Thank you Rhodes for partnering with us for this opportuntity!

The UNF KAO chapter accepted 13 new members to the honor society in January 2024. We are excited to see the chapter grow with our new students added to the cohort! 

The Chi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Omicron is the largest in the United States, as well as one of the most active. 

Be on the lookout for our next induction ceremony in Fall 2024 to meet our new members! 

The UNF KAO Chapter, in partnership with the Institute of Environmental Research and Education (IERE), UNF Botanical Gardens, and the Sawmill Slough Preserve, take care of the maintenance and upkeep multiple habitat restoration projects both on and off campus in connection with our campus partners. 

To learn more about these habitat restoration project, or invasive species removal days, reach out to ruby.cox@unf.edu or unfkao@gmail.com for more information. 

The UNF KAO chapter relaxed by Candy Cane Lake at the picnic tables enjoying post finals snacks, crafts, and relaxation in hammocks and outdoor blankets provided by IERE. 

As a KAO member, one social opportunity is required per semester. Our social opportunities are great ways to connect with like-minded peers and try something new! If you have an idea for a social event for KAO, feel free to share it with our KAO Executive Board or KAO Advisors. 

The UNF KAO chapter completed a upcycling craft activity night after the general chapter meeting. This event was a great opportunity for our chapter members to connect with one another, turn some trash (reused glass yogurt jars) into treasure (mini plant potters!)! 

Students also got to work on painting recycled tote bags with inspiration from some of their favorite ecosystems, or features in the natural world. 

Some of our favorites were "Forests are the future!" or "Outdoors for all!". 

Be sure to join us next time for one of our upcycling craft nights, where you get to take home what you've created and connect with likeminded chapter members. 

The UNF KAO chapter participated in a 60 Day Carbon Challenge with the Interdisciplinary Environmental Association in March of 2021. The goal of this challenge is to reduce our carbon footprint in an individual level and fight against climate change. 

Follow the following three steps to engage in the challenge!

1. Watch this 5-minute overview video : https://youtu.be/7QxWvIkleno

2. Fill out the google form found here

3. Register on the Footprint website

*Members who completed the full 60-day challenge will be exempt from completing the service hours requirement for this semester.*

Meet and Greet with Dr. Amber Barnes

The UNF KAO chapter participated in a meet and greet session with UNF Public Health Department's Dr. Amber Barnes. 

Dr. Amber Barnes works in the field of Public Health with an expertise in areas of Environmental health, One Health, and Global Health practices such as WASH. 

This event was very lowkey, being on zoom, we also recorded for members not in attendance. 

Be sure to attend our next guest speaker series where we host professionals to talk about their work in various interdisciplinary environmental fields. Our speaker series usually occurs once a semester.