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2007 Green Heroes
Jordan Jaco
Elementary School Student
Bob Solger
Business Owner
Matt Diller
Classroom Teacher
Sam Simmons
Saint Louis Zoo
Buildings and Grounds Supervisor
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Jordan Jaco got to explore the Children’s Eternal Rainforest in Costa Rica when she was a second grade student at The Principia School. Her experiences fostered a commitment to educate others about rainforest protection.
Jordan Jaco
Jordan Jaco’s interest in rainforest preservation led to her writing a contest-winning essay and traveling in summer 2005 to visit the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, a tropical preserve and research center in Costa Rica. This trip was led by a rainforest conservation champion who formerly taught at her school.
Jordan got to explore an ecosystem she loved. She also learned how basic, everyday practices like recycling help achieve larger conservation goals. She resolved to teach others about the effects of their choices at school and at home. She became a leader working with other students and administrators to recycle and clean up school trash.
To promote awareness and share experiences from her Costa Rican adventure, Jordan created www.rainforestkid.com, a website vividly illustrated with rainforest images and her written observations. Through presentations made to area schools, corresponding with others through her website and writing and publishing articles, “Jungle Jordan” has connected with other kids and adults all around the U.S. to discuss ideas to help the environment.
She has also organized fundraising projects, sending over $1,200 to support the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. Acreage in this forest, purchased by donations from young people worldwide, is now being preserved from the logging, oil drilling and other uses that severely threaten most of Earth’s tropical ecosystems.
Jordan has inspired her family to cut their household trash output in half by recycling, and to reduce their overall environmental impact by driving less – a notable feat for a family with active kids! After traveling with her to Costa Rica, her family now enjoys the outdoors more, visiting parks and learning together about nature.
Jordan’s mom, Vicki, says: “We have witnessed our daughter discovering a passion to support the Children’s Eternal Rainforest and the environment in general. As our extended family has seen what a huge difference one small child can make, we are continually moved to support her by actively recycling at home and helping Jordan with her fundraising and communication projects.
“She inspires family, friends and school mates to support her in sharing her knowledge about the environment. She loves to share what she knows and goes out of her way to work with others so they can understand the importance of protecting the environment.”
The St. Louis Green Hero Award is sponsored by:
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