The Roots and Shoots Program

Adaptable Environmental Religious Education Summer Program
www.janegoodall.org

Roots creep underground everywhere and make a firm foundation. Shoots seem very weak, but to reach the light, they can break open brick walls. Imagine that the brick walls are all the problems we have inflicted on our planet. Hundreds of thousands of roots & shoots, hundreds of thousands of young people around the world, can break through these walls. We CAN change the world. -Dr. Jane Goodall

Roots & Shoots is the Jane Goodall Institute’s international environmental and humanitarian program for young people. Its mission is to foster respect and compassion for all living things, to promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs and to inspire each individual to take action to make the world a better place for the environment, animals, and the human community. All Roots & Shoots members from pre-K to university demonstrate their care and concern for living things through service projects in their communities.

Roots & Shoots members participate as individuals, in local groups and as part of a global network.

As individuals, Roots & Shoots members care about the future of our planet. Roots & Shoots is guided by Dr. Goodall's philosophy that “every individual matters, every individual has a role to play, every individual makes a difference.”

In local groups, Roots & Shoots members plan and implement projects based on their group’s unique interests, resources and community concerns. Roots & Shoots projects address one or more of the following themes:

• Care and concern for the environment
• Care and concern for animals
• Care and concern for the human community

The goals of Roots & Shoots are:

• To implement positive change through active learning about, caring for and interacting with the environment;
• To demonstrate care and concern for all animals;
• To enhance understanding among individuals of different cultures, ethnic groups, religions, socioeconomic levels and nations through our global communications network;
• To help young people develop self-respect, confidence in themselves and hope for the future.

Sample activities:

• “Adopt” a place in the community
• Start a recycling program
• Investigate the abandoned pet problem in your area
• Visit retirement centers and nursing homes
• Learn about and grow native plants

For more information visit: www.janegoodall.org