You don't have to give up your Elph completely. Make it your carry-all-the-time/backup camera!
I would go with a dslr, and invest in a good wide lens and a zoom lens. You'll want wide for landscapes, and zoom for any animals that are too far off. There are lenses out there that can work as an all in one (ie Tamron 18-270). Personally, I like a longer zoom (100-400). You'll want a fast lens (ie f/1.4-f/3.5 or f/4. Image stabilisation is nice to have too, but some cameras have it built into the body so it's not needed on the lens. You can always rent lenses too to try them out. If you can afford it, buy the good stuff up front if it's something you want to pursue down the road. Otherwise you'll be trying to sell you stuff to afford the good stuff!
Do your research ahead of time to narrow down your choices based on what you want. Read reviews online, check out the features, prices, lens options, etc. Then go to a store and physically handle the cameras to see which feels best in you hands. If you get a dslr (or any advanced camera), first thing to do is read the manual so you're not stuck on auto. Since you have almost a year to prep, check out your local community college for a basic photography course (some community centers also have courses). If that's not possible, there are many good books out there (Scott Kelby series of 3 books, Understanding Exposure, etc).
And most importantly, get out there and shoot. The only way you will really learn how to use your camera is to practice, practice, practice!
) so I can't recall how much of photography needs zoom. A lot of landscapes, but I guess there is wildlife and zoom is nice for that.
