The Problem
Today, young people are increasingly disconnected from the natural world, spending less time outdoors and developing little awareness of the wildlife living right in their own communities. This disconnect has real consequences, as local species face endangerment and extinction driven by human activities, often because people don\'t realize the impact their daily choices have on the ecosystems around them. At the heart of this crisis is a lack of understanding, empathy, and compassion for the animals and habitats we share our neighborhoods with. Compounding the problem, young people working on local solutions remain isolated from one another, with no shared space to exchange ideas and inspiration across regions. Without connection to both nature and each other, these problems will only deepen.