Juan Martinez, C&NN's national Natural Leaders Network Coordinator and Lets G.O.! (Get Outside) Co-Chair, is the recipient of numerous national awards and honors. As a leader of C&NN's Natural Leaders Initiative, he inspires young people internationally to become leaders in the children and nature movement. Juan also serves as Youth Coordinator for Sierra Club's Building Bridges to the Outdoors.
In my eight years as a volunteer with the Sierra Club, I have gained tremendous leadership skills, met heroes, and made life-long friendships. I have moderated and sat on panels, organized youth leadership trainings, and developed strategic plans to make communities stronger. So why do this? You see, I believe that it is through nature [...]
Every day is filled with a chance to make a difference, today even more so with the ability to communicate in seconds through a virtual world. We can transfer money to a cause, virtually sign a petition, and spread the word to hundreds of people in our personal networks. Yet, at the end of the [...]
TIERRA Y LIBERTAD: A Camping Trip Illustrates Nature’s Place in Family and Heritage
When I was 17 my family went camping for the first time. Under the smile of a California summer my Dad, Mom, two younger sisters and I loaded into the van and drove off. During the ride my Mom was so captivated by the brushes, colors, and smell of the open air. She seemed hypnotized [...]