The Dragonfly Journal

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Help Us Find the Next Generation of Conservation Leaders

Word-of-mouth is our most powerful recruitment tool! Thank you for helping us get the word out about Project Dragonfly. We are confident there are people in your circle for whom this program would be truly life-changing.

To start, go here and request to join our Dragonfly Ambassador Google group. You will receive roughly one email every two weeks during recruiting season with actionable tasks to help us get the word out. Thank you in advance!

A Huge Thank You to Our Champion Ambassadors from Last Year

Will one of the above individuals repeat as Champion? Or will someone else take their place? 🙂 This is all done in the spirit of fun, and we are grateful for all that each of you does!

With that said, see below for updates to the 2026-27 scoring system.

As you know, Project Dragonfly is more than just a master’s degree; it’s a personal journey that inspires conservation and action. We know this program offers incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and your direct influence is the key to sharing it with others.

Your Story Is Our Most Powerful Tool

The most effective way to inspire future graduate students is by sharing your unique experiences. Whether it was a moment of discovery on a research project, a zoo/garden experience, a meaningful connection with a colleague, the awe of an Earth Expeditions, or a skill that changed your career path, your story is the best way to show the world what Project Dragonfly is truly about.

We’ve put together a Dragonfly Digital Recruitment Kit to make it easy to share your journey with your network.

Track Your Impact

To add a little fun and celebrate your efforts, we’ve gamified this a bit by setting up a tiered point system! While your contributions are valuable regardless of recognition, this is a fun way to quantify your impact and earn some rewards. The rewards are simple and may include Dragonfly merchandise, swag, a hug or high five, or our heartfelt public thanks! See the point values for various actions below the table.

Deadline to submit your points is March 15, 2027. Have fun, and thank you for your creativity and efforts!

Tier	Icon	Recruitment Points Earned	Recognition
The Egg		10–25 Pts	Just starting your recruitment journey! Creating underwater ripples in your network.
The Nymph		26–50 Pts	Spreading your wings by sharing content online and engaging close colleagues.
The Skimmer		51–99 Pts	Covering wide territory through presentations, listserv posts, and community flyers.
The Sentinel		100+ Pts	Top Ambassador status! Championing incoming cohorts and directly driving applicants.

Earning ‘Recruitment Points’ by Amplifying your Dragonfly Story

Here are eight powerful ways you can share your journey to inspire the next cohort of passionate leaders. The points reward your time and effort!

1. The Quick Tap: Engage with Us on Social Media (10 points)
   • Help boost our visibility by simply connecting with us. If you already follow us everywhere, great—you still get the points!
     • Follow us on Instagram.
     • Like us on Facebook.
     • Subscribe to us on YouTube.
     • Join our Dragonfly group on LinkedIn.
     • Follow our LinkedIn page.
     • Key Dates to Share:
       • Application Due Date (GFP): January 15th
       • Application Due Date (AIP): February 15th
       • Also mention that people can sign up for standalone graduate courses.
         
2. The Liker: Help Boost Our Content (10 points)
   • Increase the reach of our posts by actively engaging with our content over time for more impact. Complete all of the following. Please note that you must complete all the following steps to earn this tier.
     • Like at least 6 Dragonfly posts.
     • Comment on at least 4 Dragonfly posts that connect to your experience in some way.
     • Re-share at least 2 Dragonfly posts that resonate with you.
       
3. The Direct Signal: Tap a Colleague (15 points)
   • Your personal recommendation is powerful. Hand out or email information to at least 3 people you believe would be a perfect fit for the program.
     • Share these key links: Project Dragonfly main page, AIP, GFP, Earth Expeditions, and Standalone Graduate courses.
     • Send a personalized email to 1–2 passionate colleagues using our templates.
     • Need physical materials? Request our recruitment kit here.
       
4. The Storyteller: Share Your Personal Dragonfly Story (20 points)
   • Your authentic voice, images, and unique experiences are so powerful. Craft a post that comes from the heart! For inspiration, take a look at our pre-built social media templates and adapt as needed. Overall, consider the following:
     • What was an influential experience or “aha” moment from your time in the program? How does your Dragonfly experience continue to inform your current work or personal life?
     • Make sure to include some pictures of your zoo/garden experiences, your Earth Expeditions, or community engagement activities!
     • Consider adapting these templates:
       • The most important skill/ lesson/ concept I learned as a Project Dragonfly student…
       • The way that Project Dragonfly has changed my life…
       • The person that I met through the program that influenced me, the one word that best describes my experience during Project Dragonfly is…
       • When you post about your Dragonfly experiences, please tag us at @ProjectDragonfly and use the following hashtags:
         • Program-specfic: #ProjectDragonfly, #MiamiUniversity, #EarthExpeditions or #EE + country name (e.g. #EEBelize), #GlobalFieldProgram or #GFP, #AdvancedInquiryProgram or #AIP and #AIP + AIP Site name (e.g. #AIPDenverZoo)
         • More general hashtags to also include: #Gradschool, #Conservation, + [other ideas based on the content you develop]
         • Please tag our EE partners or AIP sites as needed.
         • Finally, email us at [email protected], as we would love to reshare your post on our sites
         • Link to Dragonfly social media templates for the AIP and GFP.
           
5. The IRL Connection: Flyer Drop (20 points)
   • Print or request physical flyers and post them in staff breakrooms, libraries, or zoo/garden boards.
     • Use our Flyers: Attach or link to our professional flyers.
       
6. The Ripple Effect: Broadcast to a Listserv or Newsletter (25 points)
   • Share information about Project Dragonfly through a professional or community newsletter or listserv. A template is available here, but please customize it to include a sentence or two from your perspective.
     
7. The Spotlight: Present to Colleagues or a Community Group (30 points)
   • Host a brief session for your colleagues, professional network, or a local community gathering.
     • Customize our slide deck: We have a comprehensive slide deck available. Make a copy, personalize it with your own photos, and share your journey.
     • Example Email to Colleagues from Dragonfly Ambassador Elisa Spano (feel free to adapt!).
       
8. The Matchmaker: Recruit a New Student (50 points)
   • This is the ultimate contribution! Get someone to apply, be admitted, and join the program this year.

Submitting Your Points

Remember: Submit your points for this recruiting season by March 15, 2027. Be creative and have fun! We are grateful for your efforts! The rewards are simple and may include Dragonfly merchandise, swag, a hug or high five, or our heartfelt public thanks!

Add Your Volunteering Efforts to Your LinkedIn Profile

Please feel free to add your volunteering work as a Dragonfly Ambassador to LinkedIn. Here is a document detailing how to do that, provided by program alum Allison Homler (thanks, Allison!)

Thank you so much for your incredible efforts and for sharing your story!

Trivia Answers:

(October 30, 2026) Dragonfly Trivia
In the early 1900s, this AIP partner site played a pivotal role in saving the American bison from extinction by forming the American Bison Society and shipping 15 zoo-bred bison by train to re-establish a wild herd in Oklahoma. Which institution is this?

Dragonfly Trivia Answer: The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) / Bronx Zoo in New York.

(September 25, 2026) Dragonfly Trivia
Our Earth Expeditions course in Belize works closely with the famous Community Baboon Sanctuary. However, any primatologist will tell you that there are no actual baboons in the Americas! What endangered species of primate is this grassroots conservation project actually protecting?

Dragonfly Trivia Answer: The Black Howler Monkey (Alouatta pigra). Local communities historically referred to them as “baboons,” which is how the sanctuary originally got its name.