U.S. Arctic Youth Ambassadors Esau Sinnok and James Chilcote had the incredible opportunity to travel to Yosemite National Park to celebrate the National Park Service Centennial alongside President Obama and the First Family.
Esau and James were invited guests at the celebratory event because of their participation in Fresh Tracks, a program that coordinates cross-cultural exchange expeditions with young leaders from Los Angeles and Alaska. Esau and James serve as Arctic Youth Ambassador representatives in this program coordinated in partnership between IslandWood, Sierra Club, Alaska Geographic, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Children & Nature Network’s Natural Leaders, REI, and Zumiez. Fresh Tracks was inspired by the Obama Administration’s commitment to connecting more young Americans to the outdoors and in support of the goals of the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative.
Esau (far left) and James (far right)
Esau was interviewed by the Fresno Bee, a local California paper, after he had the opportunity to meet the President. He said, “I’ve dreamed of meeting (the president) ever since I got involved in environmental work.” He added that he was inspired when the president “said that youth around here don’t really get involved with outdoors, and we should take action to let them get involved… That’s what I hope to help with in the Fresh Tracks program.”
Learn more about the Fresh Tracks program: https://islandwood.org/fresh-tracks
Listen to President Obama’s speech at Yosemite National Park: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3BKDPDreU4
Learn more about the U.S. Arctic Youth Ambassadors: www.arcticyouthambassadors.org