Travel

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.

Southeastern Camporee

I was invited to speak at the Pathfinders Southeastern Camporee and I had the best time!

I spoke to over 5,000 kids about how we can all change the world in our own way, a little at a time. At this amazing event, kids learn about so many different things.

Being a leader is hard work but it’s also fun and comes with so many perks. I was able to try my hand at ax throwing, pewter molding, I enjoyed their water park and the blob with my brother. We should all get out of our comfort zone and try new things. You never know where it may lead!

Environmental Grant

I am so excited to say I was awarded a grant from Tennessee American Water. This funding will further my monofilament recycling project. I am hoping to expand this project into more state parks and hopefully national parks!

If you know of a spot with a lot of fishing and discarded fishing line, let me know me I will try to add a monofilament bin and address this problem.

Shark Tournament

I’m a few weeks on July 9th, if nothing is done, there will be a trophy tournament in Jupiter, Florida for sharks.

Over 250 species of shark are labeled as endangered, critically endangered, vulnerable or data deficient. That means we don’t know enough about them to say whether or not they are at risk of extinction yet.

This is so disheartening to know that some of these species will be killed for sport. They will be slaughtered, and while on the brink of extinction, it’s legal. How does this make sense? It doesn’t.

Please hope by signing this petition to get this senseless killing stopped. Fishing for food is not a terrible thing but this is sport. This is completely unnecessary and sickening. Our planet depends on species like sharks to maintain a healthy ecosystem.

https://www.change.org/p/help-cancel-shark-killing-tournament-in-jupiter-florida

World Oceans Day

Today, June 8th, is World Oceans Day. This is a day set aside to celebrate our ocean and it’s amazing biodiverse ecosystems. Oceans provide about 70% of the planets oxygen. Our blue planet needs help now more than ever. We just protect our oceans, land, and rivers. Without it, lire on land will cease to exist. Diving and being in the water, is my happy place. I was scuba certified when I was 10. I couldn’t wait to explore below the waves and see the animals I love in their natural habitat.

GLOBAL RECYCLING DAY

GLOBAL RECYCLING DAY
This is my simple recycling concept in under 10 seconds!

You can change the world your own way. This is one way I feel liken making a difference and I have some super exciting news coming in a few weeks! So many more of these monofilament receptacles are going out with the help of individuals, grants and money I’ve made from recycling.

Kid of the Year

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.

Another Can Day

#146 pounds of crushed aluminum cans will fill up the back of a standard pickup truck. These cans can be new cans or new aluminum is 60-90 days and will FOREVER be recyclable. The beauty of aluminum is once it’s been separated and drawn from the earths crust is stable enough to last indefinitely. Plastic, on the other hand, is generally only recyclable once or twice then is destined for the landfill where it’s toxic chemicals and microplastics contaminate our soil, water, and even our air. Plastics shouldn’t really the go to option as far as packaging. We are just adding to landfill waste over time.

Kid of the Year!

The news is out and I am happy to announce I have been nominated and named in the top 5 for Time Magazine & Nickelodeon’s Kid of the Year! This is such a huge honor and I want to thank everyone who has taken time to help me along the way. I wouldn’t be here without my amazing family and friends who have always let me explore my passion and helped me in so many ways.

This won’t change my work or my motivation, actually, it will make me push even harder knowing people see what I’m doing and that I can make a difference.

Yearly wrap up

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.