Environmental Inspiration Stories
Looking for inspiration? You've come to the right place.
We have asked people to share their stories about what
inspired them to care about their school, their community, and their planet. We
want to better understand what motivates people to get involved and take
action. Is it loving a place? Playing in nature? Having a great teacher or
mentor? Being in nature?
We hope you get inspired reading these, and then choose to share your
own story with us. Go here to submit your story: www.greenschools.net/form.php?modin=57
When I was in 8th grade, my family and I visited the Grand Canyon, and I was instantly captivated by its beauty and grandeur. After visiting the Grand Canyon and going on a field trip with my school to Marin Headlands in 4th grade, I realized the importance of conserving the environment so that future generations can experience the wonders of nature as I have.
Growing up in the Bay Area has shaped my environmental values. I was constantly surrounded by a wealth of information regarding the environment and how precious it is. I was constantly told to be conscious of the environment. One experience that shaped my environmental values is when I saw images of dead birds and fish after an oil spill when I was little. The images made me think about the impact of humans on the environment.
Last year, I went as a volunteer/co-teacher with a fourth grade class on their annual 3-day field trip to Point Bonita. The naturalists who had dedicated their lives to teaching children about nature along with the biodiversity and beauty of the area truly inspired me to get involved with preserving the environment.
In 4th grade, my teacher did an environmental unit in which we learned about simple tasks we could implement at home to reduce resource consumption and depletion. My 4th grade teacher inspired me to change my habits because she taught me how easy it is to make a difference.
I've always felt that the environment and natural beauty had inherent value, and, living in the Berkeley area as a little kid, the values of environmentalism and conservation were instilled in me early on. When I was in 5th grade, I saw An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore. More than anything, I was puzzled by the incongruity between the severity of the climate crisis as described in the film and the poor international response. This was when I first realized that our environment was actually in danger, as opposed to merely some part of it being in danger. I understood the consequences of not acting, and was thus inspired to care. Also, last year, I went backpacking in the Grand Canyon, which was truly breathtaking to see in person. I have also been to Hawaii twice, which is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. These two trips have allowed me to experience the beauty of nature and see what we risk losing.