Charlie Henriks

As a kid, I spent countless hours outside playing soccer, going to parks, going on hikes, and just experiencing the outdoors. I enjoyed just being in nature without a worry in the world. That freedom and connection to the natural world shaped so many of my happiest memories, and I hope one day that my children and grandchildren will have the same chance to form those core memories. I want them to have the opportunity to run and play outside and to explore and feel safe in nature, just like I did. The picture I'm sharing of me and my friends playing soccer at a park is a reminder of those care-free days, when being outside didn't feel like a fading reality. As I've grown older and learned more about harmful air pollution, extreme weather conditions, and the loss of green spaces, I have realized that I have to stop waiting around for somebody else to solve these issues and actually take action myself. As a Los Angeles native, I am already seeing the harmful effects of climate change in my own backyard, literally not being able to step into my backyard because of all the ash in the air earlier this January. Seeing a hiking trail that I frequently go to, less than half a mile from my house, burning due to the LA fires really opened my eyes and served as a call to action. There is a growing risk to the outdoor spaces I love, but also to the outdoor spaces all around the world that bring the same joy to billions of other people. I fear that the same moments of happiness I experienced may no longer be viable for my children or their children. I'm participating in this challenge because I want to take action now, so my family can experience the outdoors with the same sense of wonder, excitement, and safety that defined my childhood and made me who I am today.