June 25, 2025
Young Eustis Animal Advocate Leon Nelson Running for National Recognition as Junior Ranger
By Kyle Coppola
Young Eustis Animal Advocate Leon Nelson Running for National Recognition as Junior Ranger
At just 8 years old, Leon Nelson of Eustis is already making a name for himself as a champion for animals and nature. Now, he’s in the running to win a national contest that celebrates young conservationists.
Leon, who is currently 2nd in his group, is hoping for a final push of community support to win a nationwide competition aimed at uplifting children who are passionate about the environment known as Jr. Rangers. His voter link is here: VOTE FOR LEON.
(Leon loves taking care of baby kittens often volunteering with the local humane society that helps foster abandoned animals including kittens.)
Leon spends much of his free time volunteering with the local humane society, where he helps foster kittens and care for abandoned animals. Just this week, he assisted with a wildlife rescue involving orphaned baby possums whose mother had been struck by a car. It’s all part of his deep dedication to animal welfare and conservation.
(Just this week, Leon helped save baby possums whose mother was struck and killed by a vehicle.)
“Nature gives us air and food, and we can give back,” Leon says. “There is so much to explore and always something new to learn. From the sea to the mountains, there is always something new to discover. We can help take care of nature.”
Leon’s favorite animal? The cheetah. But that’s just the beginning. He’s equally fascinated by peregrine falcons “the fast dive is amazing to me,” he says and great white sharks. His curiosity stretches across species and ecosystems, driven by a genuine desire to learn and protect.
(Leon helps feed cats at the humane society.)
When he’s not volunteering or reading about animals, Leon can often be found paddle boarding Florida’s waterways. “I love paddle boarding. Here in Florida, we can see lots of cool birds and other animals. I love watching sea birds dive down to get food.”
Leon hopes to one day turn his passion into a career in conservation science, helping to protect Florida’s native wildlife and beyond.
With just a little help from his community, Leon could win the support and recognition he needs to continue this journey. The 2025 Jr. Ranger winner will win $20,000 and be featured in the Ranger Rick Magazine.
Voting is open now, let’s help this young environmentalist make an even bigger impact. Vote here:
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
