Ava Leininger

I grew up near Indianapolis, Indiana with an ever-persisting admiration and interest for the wildlife and outdoors around me. As a kid, it was not an uncommon sight to find me knee-deep in a neighborhood pond, searching for frogs, turtles, or critters of similar nature. As I got older, this admiration and awe of our natural world remained. During my undergrad at Indiana University, I gained a base knowledge of ecology, biology, and earth and environmental sciences while studying under their animal behavior program and interning at a local land trust, Sycamore Land Trust. I attribute a large part of my journey at this point to my time spent working there, a place where I really discovered my passion for hands-on restoration and my desire to continue connecting with the land and animals around me. I enjoy getting my hands dirty (literally), venturing upon newfound critters, and experiencing the sights and sounds of the natural communities in which we live. I am ecstatic to work with the Leopold Foundation and foster relationships with my peers, dive into the wealth of knowledge that is ever so present working amongst the friends, family, and members of the Foundation, and continue building upon my own perception of the land ethic while working to restore ecological harmony across our lands.