Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots
Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots ignites young people to take action in their communities, supporting and celebrating them as they organize and implement projects that help people, other animals, and the environment.
Roots & Shoots Impact
From 2024 JGI USA Annual Report and 2025 Roots & Shoots Global Statistics
835
Roots & Shoots projects launched in the US in 2024
36
members of Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Youth Council USA
11,300+ Roots & Shoots groups active across the global network
12M+ people reached through combined global Roots & Shoots educational and outreach activities, both virtually and in person.
What We Do
Elements of Roots & Shoots USA
A movement of people who care and act
Roots & Shoots is a values-driven, universal invitation to show up for people, other animals, and our shared environment through youth-centered action.
A program that supports their journey
Roots & Shoots provides a simple, flexible framework that supports learning by doing, grounded in our 4-Step Formula — Get Inspired, Observe, Take Action, and Celebrate — to create and implement community-led projects.
A network that connects and amplifies their efforts
Roots & Shoots USA is part of a decentralized, global infrastructure of participants, mentors, Basecamps, and partners that share, scale, and sustain collective impact.
Young People Realize Their Power Through Action
Jane often shared stories of the countless people who told her, “Roots & Shoots was the best thing I ever did.” Evidence from a collaborative study led by the University of Mississippi supports these stories. When polled, participants in Roots & Shoots groups in 🔗 JGI USA’s Africa Programs countries — Tanzania, Uganda, the Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo — showed significant gains in positive character traits, including caring, connection, purpose, and compassion. These results reaffirm one of the core tenants of Roots & Shoots: By taking action, young people learn that they have the power to make a difference.
How We Work
Jane knew that global issues could feel overwhelming and lead to apathy. She encouraged everyone to take small, local actions instead. Roots & Shoots groups around the world take a grassroots approach, adapting tools to their goals and cultural context.
4-Step Formula
Community Mapping
This resource teaches you how to survey your own community to better understand the resources at your disposal and the needs your project can address.
Roots & Shoots Basecamps
Feature Story: Roots & Shoots Members Organize Local Climate Summits
Through Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Youth Council USA, young leaders come together to learn from one another and collaborate on impactful projects. Three members of our youth council decided to organize climate summits in their communities. They applied for and received Roots & Shoots youth leader grants, and they continued to work closely together as they planned these summits, sharing ideas and brainstorming solutions.
In New Jersey, Carolyn H. brought together students to present on topics ranging from local recycling guidelines to concerns around nearby construction proposals. Then, they celebrated collective action with upcycled crafts, including tie-dying bags and shirts, jewelry-making, and magazine collages.
In New York, Oona S.'s second annual Westchester Youth Climate Summit welcomed around 100 students from over 25 high schools throughout Westchester County. Between a history lesson on the origins of climate change, a youth activist panel discussion, and a workshop on climate adaptation and mitigation, participants left inspired!
In Connecticut, Lauren R. kicked off her first summit by welcoming a couple hundred visitors to The Bruce Museum for various informative and entertaining stations, including DIY seed bombs, binocular making, bird watching, and a recycling game.
Throughout this whole process, from planning to execution, these youth leaders embodied the strength of Roots & Shoots — taking action in your local community, while inspiring others to do the same in theirs. At the end of this intensive work, they held a virtual panel to celebrate their successes and learn for future climate events.
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Get Involved
Resources & Downloads
Download more information about our Roots & Shoots program.
Roots & Shoots FAQs
Joining Roots & Shoots is easy, and always free! You can 🔗 register online as an individual or as the leader of a group, then use our 🔗 4-Step Formula to start your first community project!
Anyone can join the Roots & Shoots movement, from individuals, to classrooms, to other community groups! Roots & Shoots USA resources are intended for elementary school through college-aged people and their adult mentors living in the U.S.
The name comes from Jane Goodall’s belief that small actions can lead to a big difference, saying: “Roots creep underground to make a firm foundation. Shoots seem new and small, but to reach the light they can break through brick walls.”
Roots & Shoots members are encouraged to find ways to benefit people, other animals, and the environment, and the options are unlimited! Whether you’re interested in helping shelter animals, planting a pollinator-friendly garden, or bringing food to senior citizens, all projects that show compassion and make a difference are welcomed as part of Roots & Shoots.
Photo credits: David Chase, Dee Kimbrell, Eric Guzzetta, Fernando Turmo, JGI Shanghai, Moshi J Lukindo, Stephano Lihedule, Chase Pickering
“By believing in our young people, supporting them, amplifying their work, and standing beside them, we help turn their hope into action, and their action into lasting change.”
— Mary Ford, Vice President of Roots & Shoots USA