Anna is a young activist, author, economist and co-founder of Black Birders Week. She uses her platform to break stereotypes, highlighting Black leaders in birding, nature, science and economics.

Instagram
@itsafronomics

Twitter
@itsafronomics

Xiye is a young Mexican-Chilean activist who co-organized the school strikes for climate action, where students around the world skip class on Friday to demonstrate and demand action on the climate crisis. She leads a push to highlight indigenous voices in the climate justice movement.

Instagram
@xiyebeara
@pcm_ny
@re.earthorg

Twitter
@xiyebastida
@PCM_NY
@Re_EarthOrg

Perhaps one of the most well-known American environmentalists, Rachel (1907-1964) made herstory as a marine biologist and author who shed light on the environmental damage of pesticides. Her 1962 book, Silent Spring, led to significant policy changes restricting the use chemical pesticides.

Caroline (1888-1971) was a teacher, botanist, ornithologist, naturalist, conservationist and author from Louisiana. She was the first woman to be hired by the U.S. Forest Service, where she convinced the federal government to preserve and create Kisatchie National Forest in 1930. Her guides to the trees, wild flowers and birds of the deep south connected generations to natural world around them.

Instagram
@u.s.forestservice

Sylvia is an American marine biologist, explorer, author and the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In 2015, her likeness was made into a LEGO minifigure as part of their Deep Sea Explorer kits, inspiring children around the world to learn about oceanography.

Instagram
@mission_blue

Twitter
@missionblue

Fran served as 16th director of the National Park Service, the first woman to hold the position. A longtime leader in the children and nature movement, she has served on C&NN’s board since 2010 and and serves as co-chair of the U.S. Play Coalition.

Instagram
@nationalparkservice
@usplaycoalition

Twitter
@NatlParkService
@USPlayCoalition

Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison, co-founders of GirlTrek, get girls and women outside, walking for better health, civil rights and racial justice. They work to eliminate barriers to physical activity and safe, green, walkable spaces in high-need communities across the United States.

Instagram
@girltrek
@morgantreks
@vanessatreks

Twitter
@GirlTrek
@morgantreks
@vanessatreks

Isra is co-founder and co-director of the U.S. Youth Climate Strike. Born into a family of activists, Isra has carved out her own path, which focuses on environmental justice. “The environmental movement is still predominantly white, how do we change that conversation? Having women of color leading is one way to do that.”

Instagram
@israhirsi

Twitter
@israhirsi

Isatou is a Gambian activist known as the “Queen of Recycling”. In 1997, she co-founded a organization to educate locals on the importance of recycling. Later she learned how to make “plarn” (plastic yarn) from discarded plastic bags as well as other ways to reuse discarded materials to create purses, jewelry and other goods. Today her organization provides work and income for women across the Gambia.

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A nature enthusiast, park advocate and birder, Nicole has had a strong bond with nature and its beauty since she was a young girl. As a Natural Leader with the Children & Nature Network some of her work involves connecting underrepresented communities and youth to resources and opportunities that provide equitable access to green space and nature.

Instagram
@blackinnpsweek

Twitter
@wildlifegirl09
@BlackInNPSWeek

FaceBook
@NaturalLeadersNetwork

A researcher at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Frances’ Landscape and Human Health Lab studies the connection between time spent in the natural world and the myriad associated positive outcomes. Her leading-edge work has connected time spent outdoors with an improvement in concentration and impulse control in children and adults living with ADHD. // Shorter alt from LM: Dr. Frances (Ming) Kuo’s cutting-edge research helped identify time in nature as way to mitigate symptoms of ADHD. (Photo: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

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Born in 1933, Liz outlined the visionary concept of a group of student volunteers within the National Parks Service for her 1955 Vassar College senior thesis. The idea, based on the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s, became the Student Conservation Association (SCA), which still runs today and each year places 4,000 student volunteers at National Parks across the country. In 2010, Liz became the first Conservationist to earn the Presidential Citizens Medal.

Instagram
@the_SCA

Twitter
@the_SCA

Rue is an author, influencer, activist and CEO & founder of Outdoor Afro, a not-for-profit dedicated to increasing Black representation and leadership in the outdoors. The organization leads a team of 100 volunteer leaders from across the country working to build community through centering Blackness in nature.

Instagram
@ruemapp
@outdoorafro

Twitter
@RueMapp
@OutdoorAfro

Corina is an ornithologist and champion of equitable outdoor access. She has worked at several prominent zoos across the U.S., developing programming to introduce children to jobs in zookeeping, biology and natural sciences. Online, as the Hood Naturalist, Corina spotlights incredible plant and animal interactions and the work of Black scientists across the country.

Instagram
@hood_naturalist

Twitter
@hood_naturalist

As First Lady, Michelle led Let’s Move!, an initiative to reduce the epidemic of childhood obesity. A key component was the installation of a White House vegetable garden—the first since the FDR administration! Using her platform to promote exercise, gardening and outdoor activity, she inspired kids across the country to move their bodies every day.

Instagram
@michelleobama

Twitter
@MichelleObama

16-year old Autumn is an Indigenous environmental activist based in Ontario. As Chief Water Protector for the Anishinabek Nation, she fights for the universal right to access clean drinking water and has addressed the United Nations on the topic. Her bold leadership at such a young age has helped to a spotlight on other young Indigenous activists across North America.

Instagram
@autumn.peltier
@anishinabeknation

Twitter
@AnishNation

Quannah crosses the country, speaking out about the need to protect the 20 million acres of undeveloped land that make up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Based in Fairbanks, AK, she is deeply steeped in the Hän Gwich’in and Oglala Lakota traditions that she grew up with. Her unique insight into the irreversible damage that drilling in the area would cause makes her a critical voice in the environmental justice movement.

Instagram
@quannah.rose

Nooshin is a pediatrician at the UCSF Benihoff Children’s Hospital in Oakland and leads the way in prescribing nature access for a variety of chronic illnesses. She understands the critical connection between time spent outdoors and physical and mental health. Partnering with both local and national organizations, she work make nature accessible to low-income families, shuttling them to hikes, fishing trips and other outings.

Instagram
@ucsfchildrens
@nookak1

Twitter
@UCSFBenioffOAK
@nookak

Marjorie (1890-1998) was a conservationist, journalist, author and civil rights activist best known for her advocacy on behalf of the Florida Everglades. Her book, The Everglades: River of Grass was instrumental in understanding the ecology of the Everglades and creating policy defending the area against development.

Greta is an internationally-recognized Swedish climate activist. She has inspired students across the world to participate in Fridays for Future school strikes for action on climate change. Her strong, youthful voice has drawn global interest to her activism and she has used her platform to speak to world leaders demanding urgent policy enactment.

Instagram
@gretathunberg
@fridaysforfuture

Twitter
@GretaThunberg

Stephanie is an environmental educator who knows the critical role of equitable access when it comes to both nature and higher education. As program manager at University of Washington GEAR UP!, she works with low-income families to create a “college-going culture”. She is currently an NAAEE 360ee fellow working with the Khmer diaspora in the Seattle area creating culturally-relevant workshops and environmental learning experiences to increase awareness of environmental systems affecting the community.

Instagram
@uwgearupskc
@_kcskc

Twitter
@uwgearupskc

Alexandria is founder of Earth Uprising which unites young climate activists across the world to speak up and demand action to slow climate change. A native Californian, Alexandria has seen first-hand the devastating effects of increased fire activity due to climate change, including to her own health. She has spoken at the World Economic Forum and U.S. Democratic National Convention, and this year will attend the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Scotland.

Instagram
@alexandriav2005
@earth_uprising

Twitter
@AlexandriaV2005
@Earth_Uprising

Ajee grew up in a family where summer meant outdoors time! She spent her days finding adventures with cousins and friends and now, as an adult, she helps young people in Detroit experience that same sense of adventure! She wrote about her dedication to equitable nature access last year in C&NN’s Finding Nature News: https://www.childrenandnature.org/resources/natural-detroit-developing-youth-through-the-magic-of-nature/

Indigenous women across the Amazon Basin are speaking out against Brazilian President Jaír Bolsonaro’s anti-environment policies and leading the way is Artemisia, a young member of the Xakriabá tribe. A musician and activist, she has participated in numerous climate change actions including the 2019 climate strike in New York, where she explained, “…we fight for our Mother Earth, because the fight for Mother Earth is the mother of all other fights.”

Instagram
@artemisa_xakriaba

Twitter
@ApibOficial

Today, we recognize YOU! That’s right—you—and all womxn nature connectors and protectors who often go unrecognized. Whether you’re young or old, a mother or daughter, teacher, student or fighter, we thank you for the work you do to connect children and communities to healing power of nature.

Founder of Black Kids Adventures, based in Huntsville, AL, Zenovia is sharing her family’s commitment to exploration, adventure and creativity with her community. Using her social media to showcase Black joy in the outdoors, she challenges expectations of who “belongs” in nature.Whether hosting outdoor yoga, leading a hike or teaching families to plan their very first camping trip, equitable access to nature is at the heart of Zenovia’s work.

Instagram
@blackadventurecrew