Kids for the Boundary Waters

Kids for the Boundary Waters
Make a difference

Join a powerful group of young people working tirelessly to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

This youth-founded and led group has taken hundreds of kids, from around the country, on advocacy trips to Washington D.C. to meet with decision-makers, training and empowering young people to become unconquerable advocates for the wilderness, the planet, and issues they care deeply about.

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“Some of the most impactful lobbying I’ve been subject to is from young people, from kids. In fact, even a very Minnesota-centric Save the Boundary Waters crew. When young people come to Washington...it’s extraordinarily impactful to us because [we] recognize our service to the public… Real leadership means we’re making decisions to preserve, protect, and enhance the futures of kids and grandkids. That’s something to keep in mind, that your voices do matter.”

Representative Dean Phillips in 2022

Here’s what Kids for the Boundary Waters has already done:

Organized multiple large-group “fly-ins” to Washington D.C. for kids to lead meetings face-to-face with officials 2024 DC Trip Info >>
Trained and empowered hundreds of young people, from elementary to college-aged, in advocacy and leadership skills to stand up and protect America’s outdoors
Weighed in with decision makers in our home districts and by initiating letter writing campaigns and making calls to officials
Given presentations at our schools and in our communities, and published letters in local newspapers to educate more people about the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the importance of taking action to protect it from sulfide-ore copper mining

YOUNG LEADERS

The current President of Kids for the Boundary Waters, Elsie Falconer, has a special place in their heart for the “quiet peacefulness” of the BWCA and is on a mission to urge their representatives to protect their “favorite place in the world from toxic pollution”.

At the Save the Boundary Waters gala last year, Elsie said, “We must look forward to how future generations are going to need to keep stepping up to continue the fight to protect this amazing place. I’m proud and excited to help usher in the next generation of Wilderness Warriors to help protect the Boundary Waters for my generation and the generations to come.”

Elsie has gone on multiple D.C. fly-ins starting in 5th grade, and became the Kids for the Boundary Waters President in 2023

“The Boundary Waters needs to be protected – kids come here from all over the world, and they are challenged and learn things about themselves that they can use in their everyday lives. It’s not fair for my generation to inherit a world where our opinions are not thought of. That’s why Kids for the Boundary Waters is so important to protect our wilderness from the threat of copper mines. When kids speak up, adults listen.”

Joseph Goldstein grew up adventuring in the Boundary Waters with his family, and at age 13 when diagnosed with leukemia, his wish (which the Make-A-Wish Foundation unfortunately said they couldn’t help with) became his mission: protect the Boundary Waters from copper mining forever.

Between cancer treatments, Joseph made multiple trips from his home in Illinois to Washington D.C., meeting with Senators, heads of federal agencies, and other officials, telling his story and asking for their help and support to protect the Boundary Waters.

Then in 2018, he officially launched Kids for the Boundary Waters and spearheaded multiple fly-ins of fellow young people. Joseph attended Middlebury College and has worked multiple summers outfitting and guiding trips in the Boundary Waters.

“The more engaged we become as teenagers, the more we understand our power and our ability to effect change, the more likely we are to stay engaged and to vote effectively when our time comes.” https://www.minnesotamonthly.com/travel-recreation/kids-for-the-boundary-waters-fights-mining-in-mn/

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