Brooke joined Big Waters in August 2024 as Director of Land Protection. She grew up in Fort Myers and developed her deep and abiding love of all things South Florida in the Caloosahatchee and Gulf of Mexico. Brooke earned a bachelor’s in environmental studies from the University of California Santa Barbara, and served in the Peace Corps twice – first in St Kitts and 20 years later in Fiji. In between she worked for National Audubon at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and then in California for 17 years in environmental education and on coastal restoration. As her parents entered their 90s, Brooke decided it was time to make her way back to Florida and was happy to find a position in Sarasota working with a team to protect and improve critical lands and imperiled habitats – the best way to ensure clean waters. She says coming to Big Waters feels like coming home. Brooke previously served on the board of Sarasota Bay Watch and is a member of the Sarasota County sea turtle tagging team. She spends many weekends on coastal cleanup dives and walking trails seeking birds.
Brooke Langston
Director of Land Protection
I visit islands like some people climb 14’ers. I plan visits for months and explore every inch while I’m there. I’ve seen some exquisite places, and after each adventure, I return to Southwest Florida where I marvel at the unique and fragile beauty of our coast. Being part of this team allows me to double down on my efforts protect and preserve this precious place and help ensure future generations of birds, sea turtles, and other wildlife can continue to thrive here.
