2019

Englewood, FL, United States

2020 EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker Grant Project
Puerto Rico EarthEcho Water Challenge Ambassadors Initiative

This project will increase environmental literacy in select communities in Puerto Rico by building the capacity of 10 young leaders to serve as environmental educators, engaging their local community in citizen science and restoration efforts focused on improving the health of their local watersheds. Building on EarthEcho’s Water Challenge Ambassador program, and using a peer to peer education approach, the project will bring together student leaders from the mainland U.S., EarthEcho staff, and partners at the San Juan Bay Estuary Program, to train 10 Puerto Rican high school student leaders to monitor water quality through the EarthEcho Water Challenge, a global citizen science water monitoring effort. These Puerto Rico-based EarthEcho Water Challenge Ambassadors will gain leadership and project management skills by leading water quality monitoring efforts, a community-based water education/citizen science event, and watershed restoration projects.

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EE 30 Under 30 Biography
Sean empowers young leaders around the world to explore and protect our water planet, creating opportunities to amplify youth voices in environmental education, science, and conservation.

Tell us about yourself!

My work is at the intersection of environmental education and building youth leadership. I design and lead initiatives to empower young environmental changemakers, providing them with the tools needed to educate and engage their family, peers, and community members in protecting the planet. I am the program manager for the EarthEcho Water Challenge at EarthEcho International. This global citizen science program has engaged over 1.5 million participants from 146 countries, connecting young people around the world to their local waterways through water quality monitoring, providing a platform for them to share their data with a global audience, and equipping them with the tools to protect their water resources.

Additionally, I am the founder and director of the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit, a program that empowers young people with the knowledge, tools, and funds to launch solutions-oriented ocean conservation projects in communities across the United States. Throughout my professional career, I have had the unique opportunity to work with a wide variety of non-profits, corporations, and government agencies to elevate the role of young leaders in the field of environmental education. I also coordinate the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Youth Advisory Council to engage young leaders in shaping education programs at SeaWorld, have led field-based environmental education programs in the Florida Keys and Virgin Islands with Mote Marine Laboratory, and have led coastal education programs in Savannah, Georgia, with Georgia Sea Grant. 

What inspired you to become a champion for environmental education?

My work in environmental education and conservation originated from experiences with my family. Exploring the marine and coastal environments of my home state of Florida and crossing the country camping in national parks all help build my connections to the natural world. My interest in environmental education grew further through my experiences with the Florida 4-H program and a high school internship at Mote Marine Laboratory. These experiences allowed me to learn more about marine and environmental science through a hands-on approach, and to share this knowledge with others in my community by leading outreach programs.

This led me to launch a youth-driven fishing line recycling project in high school, called the Stow It-Don’t Throw It Project. I created resources to educate youth across the country about the impact of plastic pollution and improperly disposed fishing lines, and helped them take action by making and distributing personal-sized fishing line recycling bins. Having the support of incredible mentors and conservation organizations with that program led me to my current work, focused on building opportunities for young people to step up as leaders in environmental education and conservation.

What advice would you give to the next generation of leaders that are looking to bring about positive change in their communities through EE?

The most important advice I would give a young person is to recognize they are never too young to be an environmental educator. I would encourage young leaders to find the conservation issue they are passionate about and identify opportunities to educate their family, peers, and community about it. It’s also important to remember that educational messages should be action- or solutions-based. It is not enough to simply share information about the environment and the challenges facing our planet. Young leaders must inspire others to take action by providing an opportunity for others to plug into their work to make a positive impact on the environment.

I would also encourage building partnerships by identifying organizations, other young people, and mentors who share the same passion and interest, and exploring opportunities to work together. Established environmental education organizations are often looking for new ways to engage with young people, so reaching out to explore collaboration opportunities is a great way to amplify reach and impact.

What keeps you motivated, inspired, and/or hopeful for the future?

On a daily basis, I engage with incredible young people and their mentors from around the world who are educating their communities about environmental conservation issues, creating innovative solutions to the issues facing our planet, and raising their voices to ensure a more sustainable future. Learning from this amazing community continues to inspire my work and fuel my passion for environmental education. It has been an amazing experience to come full circle in this field – from being inspired as a participant in environmental education programs, to becoming a young professional leading programs to inspire the next generation of educators and conservationists.

If you could be any animal or plant, what would you be and why?

If I were an animal, I would be coral. Coral reefs provide structure and support for a diverse ocean ecosystem, and as a keystone species they are critically important to a variety of marine wildlife. As I lead environmental education programs, I aim to provide a support network for young people to learn about environmental issues, connect with fellow young conservationists, and gain support from mentors in this field. Like a coral reef’s role in the ocean, I hope to provide the structure needed to elevate youth in the fields of environmental conservation and education, while supporting their growth as they launch conservation initiatives.

 

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Boise, ID, United States                                         SEE OTHER BIOS HERE
Age: 14

Pangaea's non-profit, the Orangutan Gang, helps raise support for species like the critically endangered orangutan by educating the public about saving the rainforest through sustainable consumer choices.

Tell us about yourself!

I’ve been involved in conservation since the age of six, when I began raising awareness for the critically endangered orangutan and their imperiled rainforest home through my conservation project, the Orangutan Gang. When palm oil suppliers burn down valuable rainforest habitat, thousands of species lose their homes and significant amounts of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere. The Orangutan Gang focuses on raising awareness for orangutans and the rainforest, and discouraging palm oil use in large companies and zoos through hosting public events, contacting institutions, and sharing information online. Along with two advisors and a small network of members, I have also developed a lesson plan for middle school students about palm oil and its impacts, available on eePRO.

In addition to my conservation work, I’m also an early college student, starting Boise State University classes full-time in fall 2019 and aiming for a double major in physics and mathematics with a dual degree in piano performance. In my free time, I enjoy practicing the piano and viola, doing crafts, reading, and writing stories and poetry. I live in Boise, Idaho, with my parents, grandmother, chickens, and two cats.

What inspired you to become a champion for environmental education?

At six years old, during my first year at the Davidson Young Scholar Summit, I met an activist sitting behind a merchandise table in the Exhibitor Hall. She explained that oil palm plantations were destroying orangutan habitat and that the elusive oil was present in everything from shampoo to snack food. She sold me a palm oil free lollipop while discussing with me the fight to preserve orangutan habitat, urging me to get involved and start spreading awareness on my own. That girl was Emma Freedman, founder of Jungleheroes, a nonprofit focused, like mine, on helping save orangutans and rainforest through raising awareness among consumers. In 2013, at the age of eight, I began developing my project through a presentation at my elementary school and began a blog, building a following through my parents’ friends and Facebook posts. Emma continues to be my inspiration throughout my conservation work, her passion and commitment motivating me to save the rainforest to this day. 

Now a graduate of the Davidson Young Scholar Ambassador Program, I continue to be motivated by the injustice caused by the oil palm industry. With the help of conscious companies, strict certification, and an educated consumer population, the destruction of the rainforest can be halted before entire species, including the sentient orangutans, find themselves without a home.

What advice would you give the next generation of leaders looking to make change through EE?

Just because you’re young, doesn’t mean that you can’t help save the planet. I am in contact with a nine-year-old who writes a newsletter about stopping climate change, a thirteen-year-old working on fishing plastic out of the ocean, and an eleven-year-old working to develop an app to reduce users’ carbon footprints. You don’t have to grow up in order to do environmental work – you can start today. Present to your school or teach your class something new. Start a website and help raise awareness. You can get acknowledged by larger organizations and build a following to help you achieve your goal. Becoming a conservationist is not as difficult as it sounds – all it takes is a cause, motivation, and persistence. All you need to do is step up, take action, and work together to end environmental injustice.

What keeps you motivated or hopeful about the future?

Is one person influential enough to make a difference? This is a powerful question that impacts our everyday lives and how we think about our contributions to conservation. If you truly don’t have enough influence, why should you do anything to help conserve at all? If you truly do, what could possibly be influential enough to promote conservation?

You might be thinking that you don’t have the power to completely avoid palm oil or donate vast sums to activists, but your influence far exceeds that. You can’t control what other people do, but there are plenty of people who would care deeply about the palm oil issue if they only knew about it. Your power is that you can tell other people, companies, and consumers about how to save the rainforest and help our planet become a better place for future generations. What is influential enough to promote conservation? Being an educated consumer and raising awareness. And if there’s one person influential enough to make a significant difference, that person is you. You give me hope. You keep me motivated.

What pro-environmental behavior would make a big impact if everyone in the world started doing it?

The best thing that we can do to help save our planet is to spread the word and teach others about important environmental concerns. Conservation issues are everyone’s problem, and when we raise awareness, we are helping to solve it. An informed populace will help solve these environmental issues faster than anything else we can do. Palm oil is everyone’s problem, and everyone needs to do their part in fixing it. If we all work together to end the crimes of palm oil, we can save the rainforest and its orangutans, tigers, rhinos, and elephants who are losing their lives for an industry that delivers climate change and human rights abuses to our dinner tables.

 

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2021 EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker Grant Project
Weaving a net to restore the Sierras de Cordoba Native Forest

Our goal for this project is to raise awareness about the importance of conservation and restoration for the maintenance of ecological services provided by our native forest, conducting workshops in different localities of the region that are in recovery from fires or deforested areas, involving the entire community in restoration processes to generate changemakers across generations. We are an interdisciplinary group of professionals and students volunteering with the Jane Goodall Institute Argentina, and we strongly believe in the transformative potential of environmental education to empower children, youth, and communities.

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EE 30 Under 30 Biography

Córdoba, Argentina               
Age: 28

Sara is the regional coordinator of Roots & Shoots, educating children, youth, and teachers in Cordoba, Argentina.

Tell us about yourself!

Since 2010, I have been a volunteer for Roots & Shoots (R&S), the global educational and humanitarian program of the Jane Goodall Institute, in Córdoba, Argentina. I currently coordinate the team of volunteers in my region, listening to them and providing them with tools and inspiration. I have managed to develop R&S socio-environmental priorities, so that our actions reach a large number of children, youth, and teachers. I have created and sustained initiatives, groups, and campaigns, taking them globally. Among my tasks is to design training for teachers, where I teach them how to design and develop environmental projects in which they analyze environmental issues and solutions. I also develop workshops for schools on topics related to native forests, illegal species trafficking, and more.

In 2018, I participated in a meeting of R&S representatives from around the world, where we discussed various topics and joint solutions to similar problems. One case was the expansion of the “Peace Without Borders” campaign, which launched in four Latin American countries, and since last year, thanks to my participation, was expanded to countries in South America, Africa and Asia. The project is connecting children from different countries to tell about their challenges, all motivated to make a better and fairer place.

That same year, I participated in COY14 (Youth Conference), an event organized by YOUNGO which is part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). By attending this event, I was able to acquire tools and information about global and local climate change, and then share them with my R&S team.

What inspired you to become a champion for environmental education?

From a very young age, nature has fascinated me. This is, why when I finished school, I decided to study biology and better understand nature. But studying and researching was not enough – I needed to share all this knowledge with the community and help out as much as possible.

So, my vocation as an environmental educator begins with enjoying every activity, talk, workshop, and game performed. Teamwork with R&S volunteers is very enriching, and we are in constant communication, achieving a sincere, talented, capable, and strong human group to face new challenges together. I couldn't do it alone, and it's in a group like this where I feel happier, inspiring me day by day to be a better educator and a better person.

I feel that there are no barriers working in environmental education – there is nothing that we cannot work on creatively and collectively, and there is no problem that we cannot address.

What advice would you give to the next generation of leaders that are looking to bring about positive change in their communities through EE?

Think locally, not globally. It is common to be discouraged when you analyze a global environmental problem. It seems impossible. But there is a reality – you are part of a community that knows you, respects you, and contains you. You know your region, you love it, and you know it is important in your life. Therefore, start by thinking about small actions in your region, in your neighborhood, or in your school.

Little actions do matter. Everything we do, day by day, matters. The valuable thing is to add positive actions and be constant in our actions and infect your family and friends with new positive habits.

Seek allies. Facing change alone is difficult, so I recommend looking for allies to accompany and exchange experiences with you.

Read and analyze critically. Check your information with a critical eye, and do not necessarily stick with what the newspapers say. Search, learn, think, and comment. If you want to educate others, it is important to have a deep understanding of the issue!

Plan and distribute tasks. Having a team has been essential for my work. With a team, it can be easier to develop and plan activities over time, and set concrete and measurable goals. Do not overwork yourself!

And finally, look for creative ways to educate!

What keeps you motivated, inspired, or hopeful for the future?

I've only had positive experiences working in environmental education. Sometimes they have been complex, but that doesn't mean they haven't been good! It is not an easy job, but I have always found hope in children, in teachers who fight for education that is connected to nature, and in the beautiful team I work with. Every time I give a workshop I learn something new.

Children have been a great source of inspiration for me to continue on this path. I hope to help them get to know the beautiful animals of my country, and enjoy our landscapes and native forests. My goal is for them to understand why our native forest is so important, why our ocean is so beautiful and vital, and why we shouldn’t have wild animals as pets – giving them the courage to just us by taking action and being part of the change!

Who do you look up to as inspiration for your work?

Jane Goodall. She has been my hero since childhood, watching her interact with chimpanzees and living in the jungle. She was also the first female researcher I met in my life, and I then got to know the rest of her humanitarian and environmental work within the global R&S program. How could I not admire her? She is an inexhaustible source of hope, and she captivates everyone who listens to her, regardless of age, nationality, or religion.

She is an inspiration and role model for women activists, educators, and researchers, and she always says that children motivate her to continue working. I feel the same! With her work, activism, and message of peace, it is she who inspires me and fills me with hope and light.

 

Copenhagen, Denmark / Cyprus

2020 EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker Grant Project
Professional Development for Educators through Eco-Schools, Adopting NAAEE's Guidelines for Excellence

This project will provide professional development in environmental education for National Operators of the Foundation for Environmental Education’s Eco-Schools program across 68 countries. Using NAAEE’s Guidelines for Excellence on Professional Development of Environmental Educators as a foundational framework, a series of training modules will be developed around the guidelines’ six themes for competency in EE: Environmental Literacy, Foundations of Environmental Education, Professional Responsibilities of the Environmental Educator, Planning and Implementing Environmental Education, Fostering Learning and Promoting Inclusivity, and Assessment and Evaluation. The project intends to implement this through the lens of the Eco-Schools Program’s Seven Steps for Educators and launch the opportunity through FEE’s online capacity building platform.

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EE 30 Under 30 Biography
Nicole's work empowers students to lead sustainable lifestyles and promotes access to quality education through education for sustainable development.

Tell us about yourself!

I am the International Eco-Schools Coordinator at the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). FEE is a global organization working in the fields of environmental education and education for sustainable development through five programs. Eco-Schools is all about students embarking on a journey towards sustainability, addressing environmental and social concerns through formal and non-formal learning practices; through a whole school approach, teachers, school management, parents, and most importantly the community are involved. Transformative education is one of its main philosophies and building skills, attitudes and behaviors is its main tool to achieve quality education and a more sustainable future.

Within Eco-Schools, a program reaching 52,000 schools globally, I take on various development and coordination roles, including looking at research and impact assessments, coordinating campaigns, and developing resources and publications for capacity building. I also coordinate a STEM project focused on project-based learning in 21 schools in the United States, Australia, and Norway, and another project implementing Eco-Schools in international schools in countries with no FEE member organization.

What inspired you to become a champion for environmental education?

For me, it was first education and then environmental education. I am deeply invested in research and policymaking and have always wanted to study and better understand some of the most pressing issues within formal education, such as social behavior, reorienting school curricula, participation, equality, and empowerment. So, it was actually Eco-Schools itself that inspired me to turn the lens over to environmental education. I saw clearly that these issues can be addressed through environmental education, and through developing the sense of belonging, understanding, and doing together for a common cause that is detached from opinions or politics.

What advice would you give to the next generation of leaders that are looking to bring about positive change in their communities through EE?

Start anywhere! No matter how small or big of an action, it matters! Is it recycling at home? Is it growing your own parsley? Is it telling a friend not to litter? Is it mobilizing your entire community to stand up to climate injustice? Do it! Leadership isn’t measured with small or big actions, just actions.

What keeps you motivated, inspired, or hopeful for the future?

Witnessing student empowerment. The fact that children aged three or ten, elementary school or university students, all take the lead every single day to make an impact has been fascinating to observe and certainly gives me a lot of energy.

Who do you look up to as inspiration for your work?

Instead of big public figures, it is in fact the people closest to me that inspire me every day with what they’ve taught me so far.

I’ll start with my supervisor, Pramod Kumar Sharma, Senior Director at FEE. Since day one, he has pushed me out of my comfort zone, and on any given hectic day he would rather let me challenge myself than simply hand me the information. Understanding sustainable development in all its dimensions is a gigantic task, but his perspective has definitely been my most useful guide.

The second person is my mom! My mom is not directly involved with this field – not at all. However, the way she promoted recycling as an important behavior since I was little, or how she would look at social issues through a sustainability lens before sustainability was even a buzzword, inspires me to go and do precisely that.

 

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Lisle, IL, United States                                            SEE OTHER BIOS HERE

Age: 23

Lyndsey co-founded an initiative that introduces sustainability education in public schools to inspire the next generation of voters, activists, and change-makers.

Tell us about yourself!

My experience has showed me that young people have energy, passion, and perhaps most importantly, a firm belief that they can make a difference. So, during college at the University of Southern California, I co-founded an environmental education club called EcoBright that works with K-12 students in schools near campus to teach about sustainability. I worked with a professor to design curricula for students of all different age groups that employed hands-on, STEM-based activities to get the kids excited about what they were learning. Each semester, our club recruited a dozen or so volunteers to teach over 100 kids in the community, with the mission to help empower the next generation of voters, leaders, activists, and change-makers.

I’m now a recent graduate with a B.S. in Environmental Studies and B.A. in Political Economy. Throughout my time in college, I put focus on my passion for early environmental education. As an elementary school student, I remember a group of spunky young college students with khaki pants and green shirts coming to my school to teach us about the environment during Earth Week. These students were the first to introduce me to global warming and climate change, the importance of recycling, the horrors of pollution, and the benefits of preserving our natural ecosystems. They shaped the way I see my role in protecting the environment.

What inspired you to become a champion for environmental education?

As a college student, I volunteered for a service-learning organization on my campus to teach Los Angeles County fourth graders about sustainability and environmental science. On my first day, I asked my students to raise their hands if they had heard about the California drought (a drought that, at the time, had been going on for five years). Only about a quarter of my students raised their hands. I thought to myself, “Why would you conserve water, if you didn’t know water was in short supply?”

Without knowledge, there is no action. Despite not knowing about the drought, the students were so eager to learn, especially when we brought in hands-on activities that let them understand the environment through science. I saw this STEM-based education as a great opportunity to connect students with the environment and get them excited about being stewards of their communities. From there, I worked with several peers to start a campus club for environmental education for K-12 students.

What advice would you give to the next generation of leaders that are looking to bring about positive change in their communities through EE?

As environmental activists, the facts of a changing planet are more than enough to propel us to action. But that is simply not the case for all. I believe it’s important to be adaptable, to understand different perspectives, and to communicate with various stakeholder groups in order to build consensus. Listening to the experiences of others with empathy and an open mind is just as important to environmental education as teaching is. Once you truly know your audience, it becomes a simpler task to engage, inspire, and empower them.

What keeps you motivated, inspired, and/or hopeful for the future?

Communities like this one, full of intelligent and passionate activists that are committed to making the world a better place.

If you could be any animal or plant, what would you be and why?

A giraffe. Being a rather short individual, I have always wanted to know what it’s like to see from up high. Plus, I wouldn’t have to worry about sitting behind tall people at concerts. Although a giraffe at a concert might draw a few stares.

 

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Pililla, Philippines                                       SEE OTHER BIOS HERE
Age: 28

Kim Alvin is a public school teacher educating children and youth about climate change adaptation in the Philippines through innovative, evidence-based, and localized approaches.

Tell us about yourself!

I’m a Science Teacher in the Niogan Elementary School, a public elementary school in the Province of Rizal, Philippines. I’m also a researcher and advocate of zero waste and climate change adaptation. In these roles, I have created localized and evidence-based materials and projects, which have been adopted by many schools, to help communities and schools take actions on climate change and waste management. This approach gives students the opportunity to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and values about climate change awareness, and reduce the effects of calamities through educational, agricultural, and environmental mitigation and resilience. The approach also gives students the opportunity to use these ideas in productive ways as they apply them to their daily lives.

My research and projects are also directly aligned with multiple frameworks and strategies for environmental education and waste management in the Philippines. As a youth, climate advocate, and teacher, I also visit schools and communities to engage, harmonize, and educate youth with the goal of improving the quality of education through environmental education.

What inspired you to become a champion for environmental education?

My students inspired me to become an advocate for environmental education.  One of the most significant responsibilities of being a teacher is supporting children to retain the sense of awe and wonder that they are born with, to be stewards, and to desire to nurture and protect our Earth. As an educator, I have to embed principles of sustainability in my teaching, take an active role in environmental protection, and promote encourage children to grow their sense of responsibility for the environment.

What advice would you give to the next generation of leaders that are looking to bring about positive change in their communities through EE?

Your passion, motivation, and initiatives in environmental education are the key to a wonderful and sustainable earth. We need you to bring the best of your great ideas and strengths to take action for the betterment of society. Be creative and innovative, and unleash your drive and passion to lead platforms and initiatives for environmental education!

What keeps you motivated, inspired, or hopeful for the future?

Youth are my inspiration. My heart crushes every time I hear experiences of children who are severely affected by climate change. I do believe that the world needs the next generation of leaders to be key stewards for the environment, and to inspire and educate more people to be aware and protect the environment. Most importantly, they must understand their roles as stewards of the planet and as responsible global citizens.

If you could be any animal or plant, what would you be and why?

I would be a shark. Sharks actually feast on weak and sick fish to prevent disease from spreading across marine life, and to help to maintain species diversity and bolster the gene pool. This effect trickles down to organisms like algae, which if not controlled could create devastating changes on Earth. As a result, sharks maintain the proper balance in the ocean (including seagrass and coral reef habitats) by keeping the food web in balance.

 

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Medicine Hat, AB, Canada                                      SEE OTHER BIOS HERE
Age: 24

Jasveen is passionate about the polar regions, oceans, and how best to engage youth in these spaces.

Tell us about yourself!

I was born in Vancouver but raised in Medicine Hat, Alberta, which is known for its natural gas deposits and has thus been dubbed “the gas city,” or more popularly “hell’s basement”. I loved growing up in Medicine Hat, exploring the prairies and being so close to the mountains. It, however, was not a place that emphasized environmental stewardship. In school, we learned about the basics of global warming, but our role in this crisis was never explained. I learned about anthropogenic climate change and the climate crisis through film and literature. I was able to build upon what I was learning in school through these mediums. My curiosity for the environment and nature led me to the Atlantic Ocean (indeed, Canada’s Ocean playground), where I completed a B.Sc. in Biology and Environment, Sustainability and Society.

I have recently wrapped up my year with Ocean Bridge as a member of their 2018 cohort. I was one of 40 youth from across Canada that was selected to be part of this program where we worked on ocean conservation, ocean literacy and ocean health projects from coast to coast to coast. Working closely with Ocean Wise, I helped facilitate service projects across the country by and for youth. The projects included Oceans Arcade (day of learning about learning to code video games focusing on at-risk Pacific Ocean species) and Oceans Month (a month-long celebration with over 14 events and workshops that focused on ocean literacy, nature and youth leadership). I have also been involved with Our Poles Our Planet (OPOP), leading OPOP’s Halifax conference and serving as the National Outreach Director to engage hundreds of youth across Canada in a day of polar education and action.

What inspired you to become a champion for environmental education?

I’m not sure that I would consider myself to be a champion per say, but rather an explorer. I’d say that my path has been one of self-discovery. From the sciences to sustainability, and a little bit of everything in between, I have been able to explore and learn about the earth in such meaningful ways. Five years ago, I participated in an expedition with Students On Ice to Antarctica, where I met youth and educators from around the world and was able to learn in ways I never had before.

There was one particular moment from that expedition that I still think of very often. Towards the end of the trip, we landed on Bailey Island, which is home to half a million chinstrap penguins. As we explored the island, watching penguins interact and trying to spot newborn chicks, we stumbled across a plastic water bottle between nests. In that moment, I felt the connectedness of the world – that our decisions and actions not only impact our own communities, but also places as isolated and pristine as the Polar Regions.

Since then, I have always tried to have a meaningful and positive impact. This drive has led to me many opportunities and collaborations across Canada and the world. From workshops on the SDGs, to a conference bringing Polar knowledge and research to communities across Canada – the central themes of my projects and passions are storytelling, education, and community engagement.

What advice would you give to the next generation of leaders that are looking to bring about positive change in their communities through EE?

When I started my environmental journey, I wasn’t sure where to start or how to use the skills and tools that I had. So, I began with getting involved with groups and organizations around me. Through that, I was able to learn about the issues my community was facing, the topics that were not being discussed, and the skills that I needed to develop. I encourage you to always be learning – there is so much available to us outside of a classroom, in books, from our peers, and especially from nature.

Some other tips:

• Advocate for specific spots and spaces for youth – it’s important that we have inclusive platforms where our voices can be heard, rather than have someone make those decisions for us
• Share your passions and stories with anyone and everyone – you never know what connections you will make
• Apply to any and all opportunities that you come across – especially those that you think you’re not qualified for!
• Hold yourself accountable – set small and large goals and continuously check in with yourself

What keeps you motivated, inspired, or hopeful for the future?

Having time in nature is very important to me. It’s difficult to access it from time to time, but it’s an important balance to have in life. With the current state of the climate crisis, I think it’s very easy to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the issues that we are facing. Climate burnout is very real, and we live in a society that is very ‘hustle’ based. As important as it is to work towards your missions and your goals, it’s just as important to pause and reflect. So, walking through forests, climbing mountains, or swimming in the oceans is where I am able to ground myself, reflect, and recharge.

As for inspiration, I would say that my family and friends are what keep me motivated and hopeful for the future. I am so fortunate to have such an inspiring and passionate community that reaches from the corners of Canada to places like Australia. My network is filled with so many incredible youth who are having a positive impact globally. When I see the obstacles that they face and how they overcome them, it keeps me motivated to continue to do what I do.

If you could be any animal or plant, what would you be and why?

A willow tree. They symbolize imagination, intuition, and vision, which I think are important values to have. There is also something so calming about willow trees and their drooping branches, that make them so inviting to climb and play on.

 

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2021 EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker Grant Project
Generation Wild: An Exploration of Youth-led Conservation in Canada (with Connel Bradwell)

Generation Wild is an online educational digital media series designed to showcase the work of young Canadian environmentalists as they seek to address and mitigate the biggest environmental issues impacting our planet; the climate crisis and biodiversity loss.

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EE 30 Under 30 Biography

Halifax, NS, Canada                               
Age: 24

Erinn works to connect others to the natural environment through outdoor guiding and storytelling. 

Tell us about yourself!

I was born and raised in the coastal city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, but my love for public lands, conservation, and recreation has taken me around the world as both a guide and as a traveler. I have worked on environmental education projects ranging from public education about arctic national parks to a documentary focused on an Indigenous-stewarded trail in the wilderness of the Northwest Territories through Trails in Tandem. Most recently I have been working as a guide and naturalist in the polar regions with high school students and tourists, sharing my passion for the arctic and Antarctica with as many people as possible. I am now studying Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management at Penn State University with a focus on national parks and Leave No Trace principals. After my studies, I hope to continue working full-time in conservation advocacy and environmental education.

What inspired you to become a champion for environmental education?

First and foremost, I am a champion for the environment because I love spending time in healthy ecosystems and wild places. Most of my happiest memories come from my experiences immersed in nature, from childhood through my early adulthood. I learned long ago that not everyone has the same access to (or connection with) wild and natural spaces that I have, and I am passionate about connecting people with opportunities to get outside and build a relationship with nature. I am always trying to engage in formal or informal environmental education in the hopes of encouraging environmental stewardship and positive environmental ethics and behaviors. I truly believe that in order to protect the natural environment, more of us must develop a profound respect for the value of nature in all of its forms – and this respect and understanding starts with environmental education.

What advice would you give to the next generation of leaders that are looking to bring about positive change in their communities through EE?

The power of environmental education is endless. Every student, old or young, who has the opportunity to learn from an environmental educator is impacted in ways that can’t always be measured. Whether you’re working in a classroom setting, unconventional education, or even just sharing your passion for the environment with friends and family, environmental education is an important piece of the puzzle to protect the environment and move toward a more sustainable planet.  

What keeps you motivated, inspired, or hopeful for the future?

The astounding power of nature is a strong source of inspiration for my work in environmental advocacy and education. Whenever I get the opportunity to be fully immersed in a natural setting with minimal human development, I am reminded of why I have chosen this professional path. Even more motivating, though, are the opportunities to facilitate and guide other peoples’ experiences in nature, and help them to connect with the plants, animals, or geology around them. Seeing the wonder in others’ eyes the first time they see a penguin, a polar bear, the view from a mountain peak, or the endless arctic tundra, I am more motivated to continue protecting and educating about these incredible places.

If you could be any animal or plant, what would you be and why?

I would be an Arctic Tern. An Arctic Tern isn’t only beautiful to watch diving for food or flying through the air, but it also has incredible strength and endurance. Every year the Arctic Tern flies over 35,000 miles from the arctic to Antarctica and back again, completing the longest animal migration on earth. Since I love the polar regions and have always wanted to fly carbon free, the life of an arctic tern seems pretty idyllic.

 

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Akpugoeze, Enugu State, Nigeria

2020 EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker Grant Project
Akpugoeze Community Awareness and Waste Clean-Up Campaign

This project will establish a community-wide campaign and clean-up initiative using environmental education to raise awareness and harness citizen engagement in waste management in the Akpugoeze community complex of southeastern Nigeria. A lack of waste management services in the community poses a health risk to both humans and the endangered Sclater’s monkey, which is endemic to southeastern Nigeria. By harnessing community engagement, the project aims to alleviate pollution, increase community pride, and form the foundation for effective waste management in the community.

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EE 30 Under 30 Biography
Emmanuel builds awareness in Nigeria to improve environmental health and human well-being and to protect the endangered Sclater's monkey that resides within his community.

Tell us about yourself!

I grew up and still reside in the rural community of Akpugoeze in Enugu State, Nigeria. In my part of the world, people suffer from serious health and economic challenges, and the environment around us is becoming more and more inhospitable for people and wildlife. This has long triggered great concern in my heart. Given that environmental health is not prioritized where I am from, I was never sure how to address this troubling issue. It was after I obtained a bachelor’s degree in Educational Management and Policy in 2018 that I got the opportunity to do so.

In late 2018, I was fortunate to join a forest monitoring project, organized by a foreign scientist working on conservation issues in Akpugoeze, as a forest monitor and supervisor. It was through this program that I saw first-hand the devastation of Akpugoeze’s remaining forests and the impacts of irresponsible land use and waste dumping. This was a life-changing experience. I became dedicated to using education to enlighten others on the need for conservation and sustainable development.

In 2019, I became the supervisor of an intensive community-based environmental educational project, targeting hundreds of children and adults in Akpugoeze. The education team went to homes, town halls, schools, and churches. We focused on many environmental topics, including the conservation of our community’s resident primate, Sclater’s monkey, which is an endangered primate found only in Nigeria. I am now preparing to pursue a Master’s degree in sustainable development.

What inspired you to become a champion for environmental education?

Seeing the harmful impacts happening all around me, my major source of inspiration comes from a motivation to help my environment and my people. Deforestation is one of the major problems in my community. Both human and animal well-being are negatively affected by the loss of trees that provide environmental, health, and economic benefits for us. I have also witnessed a major decline in natural water sources, which hundreds of people in my community depend on as their primary source of drinking water. These precious resources are increasingly becoming polluted as people cut huge trees that provide shade and filter the water underground. Many trees on hillsides above our natural springs and streams are being cut, either for wood or farmland, leading to erosion and sometimes introducing harmful substances into the water.

I am also motivated by the fact that my community is home to the largest sacred population of an endangered and endemic primate, Sclater’s monkey. Preservation of this species and its habitat is critical to the well-being of my community’s unique culture and environment.

Finally, my people constantly clamor for “development,” but do not understand sustainability. To build a single house, one may destroy many trees. It is through environmental education that one can help reverse these negative trends, and thus, I am inspired to do just that.

What advice would you give to the next generation of leaders that are looking to bring about positive change in their communities through EE?

I have many things to suggest to the next generation, but let me narrow it down to these key points:

• Be determined to leave your environment, or your community, better than how you met it.
• You cannot do all the work alone. Learn to collaborate with others, such as schools, non-profit organizations, community-based associations, and local people.
• One of the greatest challenges you may face in environmental education, particularly in developing countries, is adapting to cultures and people. For example, influential leaders, such as traditional leaders, may oppose your ideas for selfish or cultural reasons, or simply due to ignorance. Try to understand local cultures, adapt to them, and be as diplomatic as possible in relating with people. You will be more effective if you align your programs to the cultures of those you wish to educate, rather than to expect them to change for you.   
• For environmental educators in countries where sustainability is not yet a priority, do not be discouraged or let others weigh you down. Believe in yourself, have faith, and keep pushing forward. Never be afraid nor ashamed to start from somewhere, no matter how small.

What keeps you motivated, inspired, or hopeful for the future?

What keeps me motivated is partly due to how delighted I am at how my life is turning out. The environmental education work I am doing and the knowledge I am gaining about sustainability continue to motivate and excite me – I am hopeful for a new future. I look forward to helping promote increasingly positive changes in the environment and witness changing attitudes of those around me. For example, in future, I expect to see people in my community acting in environmentally conscious ways and engaging in sustainable behaviors, such as planting trees, not cutting trees unsustainably, and properly disposing of waste.

I strongly believe that one day my community will be much different than it is today, and that it will serve as a role model for other African communities. Therefore, I am thrilled to be one of those individuals leading efforts in this direction. One day I will look back at the challenges we overcame, and then look forward to picture more and more young ones following in our footsteps and taking up positive actions. In addition to myself and those immediately around me, I am also inspired by seeing what others around the world are passionately doing to improve the state of our environment.

Who do you look up to as inspiration for your work?

My most outstanding role model for my work has been my director and mentor, Prof. Lynne Baker. She has influenced me and many others in my community in no small measure. She works tirelessly, completely voluntarily, to help my community. Her zeal, passion, and active efforts toward sustainable development, conservation, and environmental education in Nigeria will remain a great inspiration to me. Furthermore, she never coddled me and instead challenged me and gave me a lot of responsibility. It has been a great learning experience. Importantly, she believes in me and gives me the chance to prove myself.

 

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Brasília, Brazil                                       SEE OTHER BIOS HERE
Age: 26

Eduarda is working to mobilize Brazilian youth to tackle climate change through capacity building and advocacy. 

Tell us about yourself!

Growing up in a resource rich country, I developed an environmental awareness from an early age. This was bolstered when I was ten, after a teacher told me to watch Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth,” which made me realize the importance of climate action. I felt compelled to dedicate my life to raising awareness about climate change, and since my first nudge was given by a teacher, I knew that promoting change would involve environmental education.

Learning about public policy during my undergraduate studies also made me realize the importance of politics to create lasting change for the environment. At the time, I was involved in education programs teaching English and politics to high school students living in the outskirts of Brasília, which made me understand the true value of sharing knowledge with others. Young people are thirsty for knowledge!

I was lucky to be discovered by Engajamundo, a youth-led NGO (“Engaging the World” in English) in Brazil, where I started doing environmental education by giving capacity building workshops to young people. After graduating, I started working as a climate change consultant at the Inter-American Development Bank while still at at Engajamundo. I also coordinated a solar energy project on the importance of renewables, training youth to push decision-makers to invest in clean technologies. Now, I am preparing to start my MPA at Columbia University and am looking forward to creating solid partnerships between Engajamundo and other youth organizations.

What inspired you to become a champion for environmental education?

I always say my inspiration was Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth.” Although this completely changed my life and personal goals, I became truly inspired to become a champion for the environment after I joined Engajamundo. It is refreshing to learn that you are not alone. I entered a network of young people from the most diverse backgrounds, social classes, and ethnicities in my own country, all who were working to stop climate change. These people are my greatest source of inspiration.

One particular person who takes my breath away whenever she speaks is Raquel Rosemberg, one of Engajamundo’s founders. She was also devoted to the environment since she was a child. After building this youth network, instead of choosing a traditional career path, she moved to the middle of the Amazon forest to work with projects that empower indigenous women through environmental activities. Those who are willing to abandon everything for the environment are the ones that give me hope and strength to continue.

What advice would you give to the next generation of leaders that are looking to bring about positive change in their communities through EE?

I would say that studying is important, but sometimes you only see the real impact once you leave the classroom. Life taught me the most when I implemented projects and put ideas into practice. With environmental education, teaching should not be our main objective, because even educators are always learning. I strongly believe that building environmental awareness through education means building solutions with everyone involved in a collective way, because sometimes the “student” knows more than the “teacher”.

Furthermore, EE will not solve the climate crisis without political action. Young people should always be aware of their potential to make a change in the environment by pressuring the politicians they elected. Bringing positive change to a community should start with political awareness and youth empowerment.

What keeps you motivated, inspired, or hopeful for the future?

When I look back on my childhood and remember seeing people tossing garbage out of their cars as if it was natural, I think about how much we have improved over the years. There is still a long way to go, but working with these issues can lead to stress and hopelessness if we often we feel that, even with all our efforts, we will never get there. Keeping in mind that we have achieved a lot over the years keeps me hopeful for the future.

The global “Fridays for Future” movement, created by Greta Thunberg, also motivates me to continue on this path. It is truly inspiring knowing that so many young people around the world are taking the lead to solve the climate crisis by going to the streets and asking for more action from the adults.

Who do you look up to as inspiration for your work?

Last year, I participated in a program called Youth Climate Leaders to work on climate education for a month in Kenya. Our group stayed in a children’s shelter led by one of my greatest EE inspirations, Dr. Karambu Ringera. She grew up in Kenya and studied abroad in the US for many years, always knowing she wanted to come back to help those in her home country. I find her inspiring because she abandoned a comfortable lifestyle and her fiancé to go back and build the shelter. Instead of just building it, she also trains the children and teenagers who live there to be independent, so that they are empowered to follow their dreams despite any daily challenges. Now, Dr. Karambu is now transforming the space into a sustainable shelter using biogas, agroforestry, permaculture, and plants for medicine, involving her kids in this process so they have a sense of ownership over what they build.