Cover photo: The 2018 Doris Duke Conservation Scholars from University of California Santa Cruz, the new faces of conservation.

In this guest blog, Kyle Reid, a 2018 EE 30 Under 30 awardee, celebrates three bright spots in environmental education, conservation, and stewardship. Read more from Kyle on his blog!

Three More Shades of Green

Growing up on the south side of Chicago I had an abundance of unique experiences. But when it came to my “environment” I never really knew what was missing. There were visits to beaches and parks, and we drove through Indiana farmland from time to time, but they were always “other,” or intrinsically alien to us. Once it got dark outside we were back indoors listening to cars pass by on Halsted Street. This hard separation between nature and civilization is a giant hurdle many urban youths jump over before they understand how important their choices are for conserving our resources. Bats are what really got me interested in science, but what kept me here was the effect that environmental education had on my life and the friends I've made along the way. I've been blessed with the opportunity to share with many the joys and struggles our natural world goes through, not just because I want them to have fun in nature, but because we will need every shade of green if we want to save our planet.

Recently, I was selected to present on my work with Project Exploration and the Student Conservation Association at the 2018 North American Association for Environmental Education Conference in Spokane, Washington.  My presentation was a "Bright Spot Talk", a chance to highlight programs that are “Bright Spots” in environmental education. Although I was grateful for a chance to highlight two great programs in Chicago, there wasn’t time to shout out all the great organizations and partners I've been a part of. But, man, do I have some shout-outs to make! Luckily, NAAEE invited me, as an EE 30 Under 30 awardee, to write a blog post about both my amazing conference experience and a topic I am passionate about. So, I hope you will join me in celebrating three other “Bright Spots” in environmental education, conservation, and stewardship.

First, I have to shout out the Chicago Environmentalists of Color Network, where I have met some of the kindest, most focused, and most motivated people working to make Chicago worthy of the nickname "City in a Garden."  The group has members managing outreach at major museums, managing parks, educating in schools, and even designing cutting-edge green buildings for the communities they care about. The diversity of strengths and stories in this group are limitless, so I will only plug one more member: Naomi Davis, Founder and CEO of Blacks in Green (BIG). BIG has done something that most communities only dream about. It brings young and old together to learn about the land their communities are on, claim it as their own, protect it, value it, cultivate it, and pay it forward. She made gardening cool y’all.

Second, I want everyone to know about the amazing work of the Ecological Society of America's Strategies for Ecology Education, Diversity and Sustainability (SEEDS) program. Fred Abbott and Teresa Mourad are working to connect undergraduates with an interest in ecology to mentors who want to change the face of science. For over 20 years SEEDS has supported students who have started up local chapters on their campus to pursue research, volunteer opportunities, build greenhouses, save the world, and do so much good work. They provide fellowships to give students like me, from under-represented groups who can't afford to take a summer off work, the training and research experience we need to be competitive in this field. They live up to their motto, preparing "diverse people for a diverse science." One of the best parts of SEEDS is that members practice reaching back and uplift our communities. Just one quick highlight is fellow SEEDS Alumni, 30U30 Awardee, and Detroit native Tiffany Carey. Tiffany now works to coordinate and implement K-12 habitat projects, providing opportunities for youth to gain an appreciation and understanding for the natural world. If you are an undergraduate, or know one who cares about these topics, reach out to them now and get involved. Or even donate!

Finally, I must promote the newest programs I've become a part of. Having recently made the jump from undergraduate to graduate student, I serve as a mentor for both the Center To Advance Mentored, Inquiry-Based Opportunities (CAMINO), which prepares students for the ups and downs of field research, and the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars (DDCSP) program at UC Santa Cruz. My Ph.D. advisor, Dr. Erika Zavaleta, shares my passion for making sure everyone is at the table when it comes to the conservation discussion. From safety and swimming to mentors and money, CAMINO and DDCSP are working to make sure the future resource and land decision makers are representative of the people who live there.

Thank you for taking the time to celebrate these organizations with me. With the abundance of terrible news related to our climate, biodiversity, and natural resources, it's easy to fall into the mindset that ignorance is bliss. Keep your eyes open for Bright Spots like these. Share them with students who can use them, support them with even the smallest donation, offer your expertise, get involved, and continue to pay forward the gifts that this world has given you.