If you could please write a letter, long or short, about how sharks are important or impact our ecosystems, that would be huge!!! Sharks are not classified as wildlife in Costa Rica! How crazy is that?
Sharks are wildlife and should be classified as such! Together we can make this happen but legislators have to hear from the people that care!
You can email your letter to me at theconservationkid@gmail.com
But please, time is of the essence, so in the next week would be great!
One of my favorite weeks of the year! Sharks are such a vital part of the ocean ecosystem.
If there’s one thing I love, it’s travel. I just had the amazing opportunity to visit Costa Rica and it was wonderful. This small country is touted for its conservation efforts over years past but now, it’s a slightly different story. While their land conservation seems to be extremely important to their people, the ocean is less looked after.
Just a week before I left, CITIES was in session and Costa Rica voted against the shark proposal. This is sad considering ecotourism is a huge amount of their income. Why are sharks still looked down upon? Why are we still not stepping up for these eco warriors who we literally depend on to keep ecosystems healthy in our oceans?
I would go back, but I hope people keep fighting for conservation, not only in Costa Rica but across the globe.
Last week, I was invited to the Tennessee Environmental Network Show of the South by Commissioner Salyers with TDEC (Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation).
This conference was attended by people in environmental and sustainability roles in large businesses, NGO’s, and government. Meeting and learning from these people was such an inspiring and uplifting because these are the people making real change in our state and region.
I was able to speak about recycling and NGO’s and how everyone can make a difference. We cannot rely on government entities to be the ones who care about our environment. It’s everyone’s job, including yours. What we do in a daily basis is what matters.
I met with not only local leaders but national leaders. People with the EPA know my name and my story. How amazing is that?!
Rally day for homeschoolers was in Nashville last week. This is an amazing way for young people to see how our government works first hand and I had the best day!
Not only did I see how our legislative processes work but I was able to meet with so many of my states influential leaders. My State Representative, Greg Vital of district 29 took his whole day to show me around and introduce me to some of the wonderful people leading Tennessee.
I learned SO MUCH, not only about government but our state in general. A special thank you to Secretary of State, Speaker of the House, State Comptroller and TDEC (Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation) for taking time out of their busy day to have just another Tennessee kid share my love for our state!
Recently, I’ve been contacting Tennessee State Parks and have now partnered with 4 to place monofilament recycling bins. These 14 bins placed between Booker. T Washington, Fall Creek Falls, Harrison Bay, & South Cumberland State park will collect fishing line to reduce this waste in our rivers and landfills. So happy to be able to work on this project which is funded by a grant from Youth Serving America & Hillshire Farms. How special, all of these were placed on World Water Day!
Although I didn’t win overall “Kid of the Year”, I feel extremely honored to have even made top 5 with so many amazing kids. There were thousands nominated and to be in the top for those kids, all trying to change the world in their one way and doing amazing things, was humbling.
I have never tried to gain attention for myself but just try to bring attention to our planet and what we need to do collectively to make a difference and heal our blue planet we call home. Everyone can make a difference, you have to decide if it’s good or bad.
Thank you to Time Magazine and Nickelodeon for considering me for such an award. Words can never express how grateful I am that the great state of Tennessee and the Tennessee River were brought nationwide attention that it so desperately needs.
This year has been busy but so fun! I’ve been scuba diving several times with my best friends! (Does it really get any better than that?!)
I have removed about 4,000 more pounds of trash bringing the total to 14,000! I hit the 1 ton mark in aluminum recycling! Ella & I won a few awards but best of all…. we were able to be together and meet Sylvia Earle!!!!
Stay tuned for next year….. it’s going to start off with a bang.
This morning I woke up to the news Winter the dolphin that has been at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium has died. This hurt my heart so much. I had the great pleasure to see Winter more than once and her story really touched me.
She was injured by a crab trap that was left behind and she was entangled causing irreversible damage to her tail which ended up having to be amputated. She was found and cared for by the amazing team at Clearwater Marine Hospital.
Their motto is rescue, rehab and release but a dolphin missing her entire tail flukes, is obviously unreleasable so that’s where she stayed for 16 years. So many people heard her story and connected with her on such a deep level. She touched so many human lives than and truly changed hearts towards ocean animals.
Winter was harmed by humans and was forced to be removed from her home but on the other hand, humans saved her and took amazing care of her so we learned humans can make things better and do our part to care for our wildlife. We can do better. We can come together and make an impact for good. Let’s do something today for Winter!
This month has been super busy and it doesn’t look like next month is going to lighten up. I’m not complaining, I LOVE it. I love being able to raise more and more awareness for our great planet, for our waterways and our wildlife.
I was able to visit Yellowstone National Park as well as Grand Teton National Park and be immersed in wildlife and nature and it was such a beautiful time! Moose, Bear, Wolves, and Bison were all on my list and I saw all of them.
Ella & I, as The Cleanup Kids, were honored to be named in the top 25 for the prestigious Gloria Barron Prize for young heroes. When we hear if being just nominated for these awards, it confirms we are making a difference and our voices are being heard.
The same day, we also learned we are finalists for the GoBlue awards with the Loggerhead Marine Center in Florida. Ella & I have both been there and researched sea turtles and have even done full videos on turtles if you want to check it out in our YouTube channel.
I also have some other things in the works that I can’t say yet but it’s turning out to be an exciting year and I am so thankful for the support of my parents as well as the people who have given so much to help me learn and grow and pursue ocean and river conservation.
I know I’m just a kid, but we can make a difference! We can and WILL change the world!
The Conservation Kid 