In celebration of Earth Day, I noticed that while there was a strong willingness to receive a free tree in the city, much of that passion was lacking in my Indiana hometown. I want to bring the love and excitement for our planet from Chicago to Indiana to increase conservation awareness and emphasize the importance of taking action among youth.
With the goal of expanding tree distribution and conservation awareness in smaller communities, our R&S Chicago Basecamp partnered with non-profit Neighborhood Forest. By connecting with my local science teachers, ranging from Pre-K to high school, as well as my school's superintendent, I received approval to host an Earth Day event that would provide youth with the opportunity to receive a tree to plant for Earth Day. At the event, I distributed trees to 88 individuals in my community. After leaving the event, each participant left with a better appreciation for native tree planting, an understanding of Jane's work, and the importance of youth action.
Oct. 31, 2026 alert: We are experiencing technical issues with our membership registration processes. Please don't go without letting us know that you're ready to join the Roots & Shoots network and work to help people, animals, and our shared environment!
Email us at rootsandshoots@janegoodall.org with your name and phone number, and we'll be in touch to get you registered! The R&S USA office hours are Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm Eastern, and we'll get back to you as soon as we can! Thank you for your patience.
