Disney is proving that some of the most meaningful magic happens far beyond its attractions, and its latest announcement is putting the spotlight on a remarkable group of young people working to protect our planet.
On October 26, 2026, the Disney Conservation Fund announced a $1 million investment in Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, a global youth program dedicated to helping young people make a difference for animals, people, and the environment.
The announcement comes as 10 young conservation leaders from across the United States gathered at Walt Disney World for a special summit, where they explored Disney’s conservation efforts, learned from wildlife experts, and received support for projects already making a difference in their communities. And this isn’t Disney’s first investment in the organization. With the latest contribution, Disney’s total support for Roots & Shoots now exceeds $7.5 million.
Here’s a closer look at the announcement, the incredible young conservationists being recognized, and why this partnership is especially meaningful for Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Disney Invests Another $1 Million in Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots
The Disney Conservation Fund is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, and its newest investment reflects a continued commitment to wildlife protection and environmental education.
The $1 million contribution will support Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, a program of the Jane Goodall Institute that encourages young people to identify challenges in their communities and take meaningful action. Founded by Dr. Jane Goodall in 1991, Roots & Shoots has grown into an international movement operating in 75 countries, including all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Rather than focusing exclusively on endangered animals or distant habitats, the program encourages participants to recognize the connections between people, wildlife, and the environment. That can mean restoring local habitats, reducing pollution, educating neighbors about wildlife, or creating opportunities for other young people to become involved in conservation.
Disney’s new investment is intended to help strengthen that mission and support the next generation of environmental leaders.
10 Young Conservationists Receive a Special Walt Disney World Experience
To celebrate the partnership, Disney welcomed 10 young conservation leaders to Walt Disney World for a multi-day summit. The participants were selected through the Hop into the Animal Kingdom Challenge, a collaboration between Disney and Roots & Shoots USA. The challenge was inspired by Disney and Pixar’s Hoppers, the studio’s 30th feature film, and the 30th anniversary of the Disney Conservation Fund. But these weren’t simply students interested in learning more about wildlife. Each participant was already leading a conservation initiative in their own community.
During the summit, the group visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom and EPCOT, where they connected with professionals working in animal care, veterinary science, conservation, and storytelling. The experiences gave the participants an opportunity to see how different careers contribute to protecting animals and their habitats. And the support won’t end when their Disney World visit is over. Each young conservationist has been paired with a Disney mentor who will provide career and educational guidance over the next year.
That means the participants will have access to experienced professionals who can help them explore future opportunities and continue developing their conservation work.
Meet the 10 Young Conservation Leaders Disney Is Celebrating
One of the most inspiring parts of this announcement is the variety of projects these young people are already leading. Their efforts range from protecting sea turtles in Florida to restoring habitats for pollinators, birds, and marine wildlife. Here are the 10 conservationists recognized by Disney and the initiatives they’re working on:
- Angela Butz, New Jersey: Creating habitats for native pollinators and restoring biodiversity.
- Jack Dalton, Massachusetts: Promoting environmental education and rainforest conservation through youth storytelling and engagement.
- Shea Polley, Florida: Supporting sea turtle conservation and teaching others about protecting marine wildlife.
- Destiny Joy Sagay, Georgia: Tackling plastic pollution through cleanup efforts and wildlife protection initiatives.
- Marlee Christiansen, Illinois: Protecting birds and bats through habitat creation and community education.
- William Tan, Minnesota: Developing innovative reef technology to help conserve aquatic ecosystems.
- Cash Daniels, Tennessee: Raising awareness about shark conservation and encouraging responsible ocean stewardship.
- Ethan Park, Texas: Restoring prairie habitats and expanding conservation education.
- Nateli Sanderson, Washington: Supporting orca and salmon conservation through habitat restoration and public outreach.
- Katelyn Liu, California: Expanding conservation education and helping more young people access STEM learning opportunities.
These projects demonstrate just how many different forms conservation can take. Some participants are directly restoring habitats, while others are using education, technology, and community outreach to create lasting change. And for the young people involved, Disney’s recognition could help their projects reach even more people.
Disney Helps Fund 102 Additional Youth Conservation Projects
The 10 summit participants weren’t the only young conservationists receiving support. Disney also revealed that the challenge winners helped select additional youth-led projects to receive Roots & Shoots grants. That process resulted in 102 grants awarded across 32 states and territories. The original 10 participants also received smaller Disney Conservation Fund grants to help expand their own initiatives.
According to Disney, those grants have already supported activities such as planting native vegetation, organizing reef restoration events, installing bat boxes in important habitats, and distributing turtle-themed care packages to pediatric cancer patients. These examples highlight an important aspect of the Roots & Shoots philosophy: conservation is about helping communities as well as protecting the natural world. The combination of financial support, mentorship, and hands-on learning creates opportunities for young people to build on work they’ve already started.
Why This Announcement Matters for Disney’s Animal Kingdom
If you’ve spent time exploring Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you’ve probably noticed that conservation is woven throughout the park. From educational experiences and animal care programs to attractions that encourage guests to appreciate wildlife and natural habitats, Animal Kingdom was built around more than entertainment alone. The Disney Conservation Fund plays an important role in extending those efforts beyond Walt Disney World.
Established in 1995, the fund is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026. Disney reports that it has directed more than $141 million to conservation programs worldwide. Those contributions support organizations and communities working to protect wildlife, preserve habitats, and encourage future conservation leaders. The Roots & Shoots partnership is particularly relevant because it connects the conservation messages guests encounter at Animal Kingdom with young people taking action in their own neighborhoods.
Instead of simply learning that wildlife needs protection, these students are discovering how to participate in that work themselves. And through the Walt Disney World summit, they had an opportunity to see how science, animal care, education, and storytelling can work together.
Continuing Jane Goodall’s Legacy
The announcement also carries special meaning because of the legacy of Dr. Jane Goodall. The renowned primatologist and conservationist, who died in 2025, spent decades transforming our understanding of chimpanzees while advocating for wildlife protection and environmental responsibility.
She founded Roots & Shoots in 1991 because she believed young people could become powerful agents of change in their communities. That philosophy remains central to the program today.
Anna Rathmann, CEO of the Jane Goodall Institute USA, praised the 10 challenge winners as examples of Goodall’s belief in the importance of empowering younger generations. Disney’s latest investment helps continue that mission by providing resources and opportunities to young conservationists who are already putting their ideas into action. And with Roots & Shoots operating internationally, the partnership reaches well beyond the boundaries of Walt Disney World.
My Take
I love seeing Disney make announcements like this because they remind me that the company’s ability to inspire people doesn’t have to stop at the theme park gates. And while a $1 million investment is certainly worth celebrating, what stands out to me most is the fact that Disney is investing in young people who are already doing the work.
These aren’t hypothetical conservation projects or ideas that might happen someday. These students are restoring habitats, protecting wildlife, reducing pollution, and encouraging others to get involved right now. I think that’s incredibly inspiring.
I’m also particularly happy to see a young conservationist from Florida being recognized for sea turtle protection. Living in a state where our beaches and coastal ecosystems are such an important part of the environment, I think it’s wonderful to see those efforts receiving national attention. But the part of this initiative that I find most valuable might actually be the mentorship program. Financial support can help a project grow, but access to experienced professionals can help shape someone’s entire future.
Imagine being a young person who loves animals and suddenly having the opportunity to learn directly from Disney’s veterinary, animal care, or conservation teams. That kind of experience could inspire a future wildlife veterinarian, marine biologist, environmental scientist, or conservation educator. And I think that’s where this partnership has the potential to make a lasting difference.
I also appreciate that Disney is recognizing conservation efforts that don’t necessarily look alike. Protecting sharks, planting native flowers, developing reef technology, and teaching children about the environment are all different approaches, but they contribute to a shared goal. If there’s one thing I’d love to see Disney do more of, it’s finding ways to share these young conservationists’ stories directly with guests visiting Animal Kingdom. I think families would connect with the message even more if they could see real examples of children and teenagers making a difference in their communities.
Because sometimes the most powerful thing you can tell a child is that you don’t have to wait until you’re an adult to change the world. And to me, that’s a beautiful way to continue Jane Goodall’s legacy.
Disney’s Conservation Efforts Continue Beyond Walt Disney World
Disney’s latest $1 million investment brings its total contributions to Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots to more than $7.5 million. The announcement also celebrates 10 young conservationists who participated in a Walt Disney World summit, received project support, and helped select 102 additional youth-led initiatives for funding.
As the Disney Conservation Fund marks its 30th anniversary, the company continues supporting projects designed to protect wildlife and inspire the next generation of environmental leaders. You can learn more through the official Disney announcement and the Jane Goodall Institute.
Did you know Disney had it’s own wildlife conservation fund?
Keep checking back with Theme Park Scope for more Disney conservation news, Animal Kingdom updates, and inspiring stories from across the Disney community!
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