The Context

Over the last fifty years, Planetwalker Dr. John Francis has served as an ambassador for the environment and human kindness, inspiring everyone he has met along his life journey. Planetwalk (PW) Clubs are intended to continue Dr. Francis’s legacy for future generations. Planetwalk believes that every person has the power to give and receive kindness—toward one another and the environment where they live, learn, and play. Our goal is to help them reach their full potential in a world that supports all life. PW will amplify children and youth voices by increasing awareness of kindness and environmental stewardship. Through newsletters, conference presentations, and outreach efforts, PW Clubs will empower children to become leaders in shaping a more sustainable and compassionate world.

The Idea

PW will establish, nurture, and support a global network of children and youth committed to kindness and the physical environment to promote and steward a safe and healthy planet. PW Clubs will be launched in schools, libraries, and youth centers across the world, providing engaging learning experiences through our website and locally designed exploration projects. Club members will have opportunities to participate in periodic webinars and virtual calls, fostering connections with peers across different regions. The clubs will focus on content designed for children and youth of all ages. In 2025, PW will recruit up to six pilot clubs in the United States. Leaders in these clubs will work with PW to co-design and develop a PW Club charter, including the structure for all clubs and how local clubs will function. The initial clubs will serve as pilot programs, with long-term plans developed in collaboration with club members to ensure their needs and ideas are fully integrated. By working alongside children and youth, as well as their families, friends, and broader community members, including public and private service and funding organizations we aim to create a kinder, cleaner, safer, more sustainable, and more equitable world.

Why Global? Why Children?

Climate change-induced environmental crises—such as floods, extreme temperatures, and wildfires—are becoming increasingly frequent and severe.
  • Children, youth, and future generations are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation. Their well-being and futures are directly at stake.
  • Environmental challenges know no borders—no country can build walls to shield its children from pollution, extreme weather, or ecosystem collapse.
  • Children in communities worldwide can unite in the fight for their right to a healthy environment and a future that sustains all life.
PW Clubs Focus Areas
  • Learn and Model Kindness: Fostering respect for the environment as a deeply interconnected system with human well-being.
  • Support Environmental Science Education: Encouraging environmental health and sustainability learning opportunities.
  • Advocate for Children’s Rights: Promoting youth involvement in decisions that impact their present and future.
  • Encourage Cross-Cultural Learning: Enabling international knowledge-sharing and collaboration.
  • Provide Leadership in Public Health & Sustainability: Supporting marginalized and vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by environmental issues. Extended Reality (XR) and Interactive Environments PW extended reality (XR) creates immersive shared environments where club members and mentors can explore environmental issues, foster empathy, and engage in collaborative storytelling. By unifying physical and virtual worlds through XR, participants can connect across cultures, learn from diverse perspectives, and contribute to meaningful environmental action. These core components provide the foundation for interactive learning, citizen science, and advocacy, ensuring that children’s voices and experiences shape a more compassionate and sustainable future.

    Core Components

    • Website & Research Hub: Featuring the latest research on environmental sustainability, kindness, and their interconnected impact on communities.
    • Shared XR Environments: PW club members and mentors co-create virtual spaces to explore environmental issues, share cultural knowledge, and model acts of kindness.
    • Global Collaboration: Opportunities for shared learning through virtual discussions, storytelling, and collective problem-solving among children and mentors worldwide.
    • Interactive Tracking & Engagement: Follow PW’s initiatives, fieldwork, and environmental advocacy through virtual and real-world experiences.
    • Citizen Science & Data Access: Partnerships with programs such as The GLOBE Program, Youth Climate Summits at The Wild Center, iNaturalist, and The American Geophysical Union (AGU) to connect club members with meaningful environmental data collection and analysis.
    • Community Knowledge & Advocacy: Amplifying children’s voices through immersive storytelling and shared experiences, shaping advocacy and outreach efforts that highlight their unique perspectives.

Club Requirements and Incentives

To participate in Planetwalk Clubs, each group must:
  • Have an adult leader or designated contact person responsible for guiding and supporting club activities.
  • Maintain group access to the internet for engagement with the Planetwalk platform, virtual events, and XR experiences.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to collaboration by sharing learnings and participating in discussions with other PW Clubs worldwide.
  • Sign a pledge to uphold and promote kindness in their community and actively support environmental sustainability efforts. Incentives for Participation To recognize and encourage active participation, PW Clubs will receive:
    • Exclusive XR Planetwalk Access: Members will have privileged access to Planetwalk’s interactive XR environments, allowing for deeper exploration and storytelling opportunities.
    • Public Gallery Space for Student Work: An online and physical showcase of student-led projects, including digital art, scientific findings, and creative storytelling, highlighting their contributions to environmental awareness.
    • Customized Curriculum & Resources: Clubs will gain access to tailored educational materials that integrate environmental science, storytelling, and leadership development.
    • Kindness & Leadership Recognition: Opportunities for members to be featured in PW newsletters, conferences, and outreach campaigns, celebrating their contributions to community building and sustainability efforts. Walk with us … Planetwalk Clubs will create a movement of young environmental leaders dedicated to kindness, scientific exploration, and sustainability. By leveraging extended reality, scientific collaboration, and real-world engagement, PW Clubs will empower children and youth to re-imagine and shape the future of our planet. Together, we will foster a world that values compassion, resilience, and environmental responsibility, ensuring a legacy of positive change for generations to come.
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