Not Left or Right - Just Wild

After years of attending public meetings, rallying support for environmental petitions, and calling on elected officials to do the right thing, conservationist Sergei Kelley came to a realization: “We can’t keep begging people in office to protect Florida. We need to replace them.” 

From that frustration, Kelley founded Florida Keepers in April 2025, a bold, nonpartisan organization committed to protecting Florida’s wild lands and holding decision-makers accountable. But unlike traditional environmental groups, Florida Keepers is looking beyond advocacy. Its ultimate goal is to find, recruit, and support candidates who will unapologetically put “Floridians and Wild Florida first.” 

Kelley, who holds degrees in history, wildlife, and political theory, describes Florida Keepers as a watchdog and grassroots mobilizer. “We’re not just fighting for trees or trails,” he says. “We’re fighting to preserve what makes Florida, Florida.” 

To Kelley, a “real Floridian” isn’t just someone born here - it’s someone who deeply understands the value of wild spaces, opposes unnecessary development, and believes Florida’s identity is inseparable from its ecology. “Without Wild Florida, we’re just another suburb like anywhere else.” 

Florida Keepers is sharply focused on issues that impact land use, conservation, and public access, steering clear of broader political or social debates. Kelley says, “Our lens is simple: does this issue threaten Wild Florida?” 

At the heart of Florida Keepers’ work is content creation. Through videos, graphics, and urgent calls to action, the group educates the public and mobilizes followers to speak up. “The most effective content shows real people - our board members, our communities - speaking out about a real issue,” Kelley explains. 

That authenticity has helped fuel recent victories. Florida Keepers played a role in Orange County’s decision to reaffirm its rural boundary after a controversial state law threatened to override local land protections. They also helped raise early alarms about the then-proposed “Alligator Alcatraz” center and the Guana land swap in Northeast Florida. 

“Our model is working because people are desperate for an outlet where they can actually make a difference,” Kelley says. “We don’t just post - we tell people where to show up, who to call, and what to do next.” 

While wild spaces are Florida Keepers’ priority, Kelley notes that agricultural lands - like citrus groves and ranches - are now increasingly vulnerable. “Developers are targeting old ranches and farming communities,” he says. “These lands matter, too, both ecologically and culturally.” 

One example is the organization’s recent support for residents in Homestead fighting to preserve Orchid Jungle, a once-protected piece of Redlands farmland now eyed for high-density development. “People deserve to live in green spaces. And we’re going to help them fight for that.” 

Florida Keepers is a filed corporation but is still awaiting a final 501(c)(3) filing from the IRS and another branch of Florida Keepers will be a 501(c)(4). Florida Keepers are not currently filed under either.  

Florida Keepers aim is to make environmental accountability a litmus test in Florida elections, regardless of party. “In five years, we want candidates to be proud to have our endorsement,” he says. “We want voters to trust that if someone’s backed by Florida Keepers, they’re going to protect this state, not sell it off.” 

The group is already laying the groundwork to influence the 2026 election cycle by identifying and training potential candidates across the state, from the Panhandle to the Keys. 

Kelley urges everyday Floridians to stay engaged at the local level, where zoning decisions quietly shape the future of neighborhoods and ecosystems. “A lot of the destruction happens through obscure county meetings. Five people show up, and next thing you know, there’s a subdivision on a cypress swamp.” 

He encourages residents to follow Florida Keepers on Instagram @FloridaKeepers_ and on Facebook @FloridaKeepers, document environmental destruction when they see it, and share calls to action with friends. “Even if you can’t make the meeting, someone you know might be able to,” he says. 

Ultimately, Kelley believes that while the fight is uphill, it’s not unwinnable. “The way things are going isn’t working. But if enough people wake up, speak out, and get involved, we can still keep Florida… Florida.”