Kids For The Planet!

It’s Earth Week, folks! Today we’re highlighting kids around the world who are making a difference for the planet.

Kendall Rae Johnson, 6

We’re starting off with a local! 6-year-old Atlantan Kendall is Georgia’s youngest certified farmer. Kendall began her green-thumb journey at 3 when her great-grandmother taught her how to replant stems and clipping. Today Kendall sells food baskets and hosts classes at her farm aGROWKulture Urban Farm in Southwest Atlanta. She is also building an outdoor kids agricultural science learning space. Her goals are to make new friends and share her love of farming. She likes to remind folks that, “if we share positivity with each other, we can all grow together, and there’s enough for everybody.”

If we share positivity with each other, we can all grow together, and there’s enough for everybody.

Kendall, 6

Miles Fetherston-Resch , 9

Miles is the founder of Kids Saving Oceans a non-profit dedicated to raising $1,000,000 for ocean and sealife conservation before Miles turns 18. Miles’s passion for the ocean was sparked by Shark Week. After learning about the negative impact human can have on sharks’ habitats he decided to do something. When someone purchases a (very cute) sticker, t-shirt, or water bottle 100% of the proceeds go to conservation organizations. Oh, and of course, each item is sustainably sourced and the company is carbon negative.

Mari Copeny, 14

13-year-old activist, philanthropist, and “future president” Mari Copeny, from Flint, Michigan, is on the front lines helping kids to embrace their power through equal opportunity. When the Flint Water Crisis began in Flint instead of feeling helpless Mari decided to use her voice to help out her community and to fight for the kids in Flint and she has not stopped since. Since then she has expanded her effort to help communities across the nation dealing with toxic water.

What does Mari have to share with other kids who want to get involved? “You’re never too young or too small to change the world!”

Amy & Ella Meek, 14 & 16

Sisters Amy and Ella Meek, from the UK, founded their child-led campaign Kids Against Plastic after learning about the devastating impact plastic pollution has on marine wildlife.

As they learned about plastics they also discovered plastic’s connection to fossil fuel. One UN study found that if the growth of plastic production continues at its current rate, “by 2050 the plastic industry may account for 20% of the world’s total oil consumption.”

As Amy told a UK newspaper, “The wasteful production of single-use plastics is so interconnected with the consumption of fossil fuels and global warming, and learning about these problems really opened our eyes.”

You can learn more about the teen’s work in their Tedx Talk! You can also follow their Instagram @kidsagainstplastic for the latest.

Tips For Parents

Like these kids, your child may be concerned about the environment and have questions about climate change. Talking about a complex and pressing issue can feel daunting. Below we’ve collected some great resources on how to talk to kids about climate change.

  • NPR has 6 tips for talking to your kids about climate change.

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