Roots & Shoots projects around the world demonstrate a powerful truth: environmental education does not just change lives—it can transform communities across generations. The story of Dr. Katrina Macht and John Guarino from New Jersey shows this first-hand.
In 1993, Dr. Katrina Macht attended a lecture by Dr. Jane Goodall, who told Katrina to start a Roots & Shoots group at the school she taught at, Hillside Intermediate School. By 1995, Hillside had a Roots & Shoots group, which was woven into the school’s curriculum and included service projects. For Katrina, Roots & Shoots became more than a programme—it became a source of energy and purpose. Her journey even took her to Tanzania, where the experiences inspired her dissertation and reinforced her commitment to education as a force for conservation.
One of the students she inspired together with the Roots & Shoots programme was John Guarino. In the late 1990s, John joined the Roots & Shoots Environmental Club at Hillside. Under Katrina’s guidance, he helped transform seven acres of school property into a living nature preserve. This hands-on experience built his confidence and set him on a lifelong path of environmental stewardship. At just 19, John founded his own design studio, which he has successfully managed for 17 years. Today, he pays it forward by co-founding a nonprofit organisation, SeedEd, that helps schools create outdoor classrooms, ensuring more children can connect with nature. His commitment continues at home, where he teaches his own son the same values he learned through Roots & Shoots.
This story from New Jersey illustrates a pattern repeated worldwide: a single Roots & Shoots group can create a ripple effect that spans decades and generations. When young people connect with nature and learn to take action, they carry those lessons forward—into their careers, their communities, and their families. The result is a global movement of changemakers, each paying forward the gift of hope and empowerment they received.
Katrina’s and John’s stories are just two examples of the lasting change that Roots & Shoots can spark. You too can be part of this global movement — Find your local Roots & Shoots office and take action today by joining a group or starting your own. Together, we can build a more compassionate and sustainable world.
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