Disney Conservation Fund invited 10 young conservation leaders to a multi-day summit at Walt Disney World as they announced a $1 million investment in the youth program Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots.
Disney Celebrates Next Generation of Conservation Leaders
This brings Disney’s total investment in Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots to over $7.5 million. Part of the Jane Goodall Institute, the program supports, connects, and celebrates young people taking action in their own communities to help people, animals, and the environment.
Youth participants were selected for the Walt Disney World summit through the “Hop into the Animal Kingdom Challenge,” created in collaboration with Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots USA in celebration of Disney and Pixar’s 30th film, Hoppers, and the 30th anniversary of the Disney Conservation Fund.
The young advocates chosen are active leaders in their communities through projects focused on wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, environmental education, pollution reduction, and community engagement.
They participated in immersive firsthand experiences at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and EPCOT, gaining insights from Disney’s animal care, veterinary, science, conservation, and storytelling experts. They visited Conservation Station and Jumping Junction, and participated in the Wild Africa Trek.
The event offered the opportunity to explore careers dedicated to protecting the natural world and networking with fellow young changemakers. Each participant was paired with a Disney mentor who has expertise in their interest areas and who will serve as a career and education coach over the next year.
“The future of conservation depends on supporting and inspiring the next generation of leaders,” said Claire Martin, Senior Manager, Biodiversity Conservation Programs at The Walt Disney Company. “By connecting young people with nature and giving them opportunities to explore careers in animal care, conservation and science, we can help inspire lifelong champions for wildlife and the planet. We’re proud to collaborate with Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots to celebrate these remarkable young leaders and invest in the future of conservation.”
The 10 chosen participants represent a diverse range of conservation initiatives occurring in communities across the country, including:
- Angela Butz (New Jersey) — Native pollinator habitat creation and biodiversity restoration.
- Jack Dalton (Massachusetts) — Environmental education and rainforest conservation through youth engagement and storytelling.
- Shea Polley (Florida) — Sea turtle conservation and environmental education initiatives.
- Destiny Joy Sagay (Georgia) — Plastic pollution cleanup and wildlife protection efforts.
- Marlee Christiansen (Illinois) — Bird and bat conservation through habitat creation and community awareness.
- William Tan (Minnesota) — Aquatic ecosystem conservation through innovative reef technology.
- Cash Daniels (Tennessee) — Shark conservation awareness and ocean stewardship.
- Ethan Park (Texas) — Prairie restoration and conservation education.
- Nateli Sanderson (Washington) — Orca and salmon conservation through habitat restoration and outreach.
- Katelyn Liu (California) — Conservation education and increasing youth access to STEM education.
In addition to the summit, the participants received small grants from the Disney Conservation Fund to support their projects. The grants have enabled them to expand their work through activities like guiding their peers through native plantings, leading reef restoration events, installing bat boxes in critical habitats, and distributing turtle-themed care packages to pediatric cancer patients.
They were also invited to help select additional youth-led community projects as Roots & Shoots grant winners, resulting in 102 grants awarded across 32 states and territories.
“Our 10 challenge winners are inspiring examples of Dr. Jane Goodall’s deeply held belief that young people are our greatest reason for hope,” said Anna Rathmann, CEO of the Jane Goodall Institute USA. “These young people embody the power of hope and action. They believe that change is possible and that they can make a difference for our fellow animals and shared environment, which is exactly what Roots & Shoots is about. We are so grateful to our partners at the Disney Conservation Fund for giving us the opportunity to celebrate and support this important work.”
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