Jane Goodall and Roots & Shoots

In 2003, when Chase Pickering was fifteen years old, his grandmother gave him the opportunity to meet Dr. Jane Goodall when she came to Asheville, North Carolina. At that time Dr. Jane asked Chase to get involved with her program that empowers youth around the world- Roots & Shoots (a program of the Jane Goodall Institute). Chase saw Roots & Shoots as an amazing opportunity to follow his own passion of caring for animals, the environment, and the human community. He wanted to make a difference in his community and in turn, the world. As founder for the Roots & Shoots Group at Carolina Day School, Chase focused on helping the chapter grow into a very active one.  Twenty percent of the school’s student body participated in the chapter’s environmental and humanitarian projects - all planned, organized, and funded by the students. The Upper School Chapter’s first project was to build a 60-foot pre-release flight cage for injured and orphaned birds of prey at Wild for Life, a local wildlife rehabilitation center serving Western North Carolina.  Chase was also actively involved at Wild for Life, where he volunteered on a regular basis, assisted in rescue efforts, cared for the injured and orphaned wildlife at the center, and worked with their birds of prey in Wild for Life’s educational outreach program. Chase traveled to local schools, events, and organizations with these animal ambassadors, presenting information on wildlife rehabilitation, creating awareness about good stewardship, and sharing thoughts on how to co-exist responsibly and happily with wildlife.

In February 2005, Chase was selected to serve a two-year term on Dr. Jane Goodall’s National Youth Leadership Council.  As one of 16 council members, Chase has traveled extensively, representing Dr. Goodall and the council’s work.  During a trip to Washington, D.C., Chase and his Roots & Shoots group were featured on Animal Planet for their work with birds of prey.  He was also a featured youth activist on MTV’s Trippin’ with Cameron Diaz web site.  In 2005, Chase helped launch the first annual Youth Leadership Immersion Experience, which took him deep into the Amazon with other Youth Leadership Council members from around the nation. In July 2006, Chase traveled to “the roots” of the Roots & Shoots program, with a trip to Tanzania, Africa, where he will visit Gombe Stream National Park and work with local R&S groups.  In 2006, Chase spearheaded an international R&S project focused on bringing young people together from the U.S. and Africa to improve the lives of chimpanzees left orphaned by the bushmeat trade. The project was to organize and raise $50,000 to fund the construction of a new chimpanzee care and housing facility at the Jane Goodall Institute’s Tchimpounga Sanctuary, Congo Basin, Africa. The project surpassed its goal.

After graduating high school in 2006, he was asked to be the first Youth Leadership Fellow for the Roots & Shoots program. He took a “gap year” between high school and college to serve as a spokesperson, further develop the Youth Leadership Initiative, and facilitate the function of the R&S youth campaigns. Chase now serves as the youngest member of the Jane Goodall Institute’s Board of Directors. He was also the first recipient of Jane Goodall’s Global Youth Leadership Award in November 2007.

Photography

With the fresh vision of youth and a sense of wonder that translates a passion for sharing the magic and beauty of our world through his work, Chase  (at age 21) has witnessed and photographed amazing wildlife in many of the world’s most beautiful – and endangered habitats. From the Amazon River basin, to Africa’s vast Serengeti Plain, to a sub-Antarctic island, Chase’s travels, experiences, and images present compelling photography with a purpose. His goals are to spark interest in and communicate the importance of protecting and conserving our most precious natural habitats and the wild animals that call these places home.

An active photographer for nine years, Chase debuted his first photographic exhibits in 2002 at age 15: Costa Rica and The Galapagos Islands (Spring 2002) and Africa (Fall 2002). Both were mounted at The Compleat Naturalist Wildlife Art Gallery in Asheville, NC. At the WNC Nature Center (March 2003) and at The Diana Wortham Theater (November 2003), Chase presented “Chasing the African Dream,” a slide presentation highlighting his travels and experiences while on safari in Africa with his grandmother, Mimi Cecil. In November 2003, Chase presented a lecture on behalf of the Colburn Earth Science Museum at the Diana Wortham Theater (Asheville’s chief performing arts theater), attracting a “standing room only” audience - with a total of 400 people in attendance.

In January 2004, Chase traveled to Antarctica with his grandmother and companion in adventure, Mimi Cecil. Even though they didn’t quite make it to Antarctica (while avoiding an iceberg, an uncharted rock raked the hull of their expedition ship), Chase’s stories of his 3-day “shipwreck adventure” on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia and the stunning photographs he took (while awaiting ship repair and rescue) present a beautiful portrait of life in the coldest reaches of the Southern Hemisphere. Whether capturing shots on Antarctica or on the Serengeti Plain, the photographs have a special story to tell.  Chase’s desire is that his photographs of wild animals in their natural habitats will serve as a “visual voice” to support and promote action now for a healthy and balanced world.

Nature’s Best

In February of 2007, Chase was asked by Nature’s Best Publishing to help launch a new nature photography magazine for kids by kids. Nature’s Best Photography for Students seeks to inspire kids, teens, and the young at heart to explore the wonders of nature through stories written and photographed for kids by kids. He currently serves as the magazine’s Director of Marketing.

Wildlife Rehabilitation

Since age 13, Chase has held state and federal wildlife rehabilitation licenses.  During this time, he has actively participated in the rescue and rehabilitation of most of the reported injured and orphaned wildlife, specializing in waterfowl in Western North Carolina. For five years, Chase volunteered at the Western North Carolina Nature Center, where he assists in wildlife rehabilitation efforts and promotes an advanced environmental enrichment program for all the animals at the center. Chase works primarily with the wolves, cougars, bobcats, and bears at the WNC Nature Center (an American Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) certified facility), and assists in assuring that they are given the best possible care.

Lecturer

Chase has served as a guest speaker in undergraduate classes at North Carolina’s Warren Wilson College, Duke University, Furman University in South Carolina and St. Xavier’s University in Chicago, IL. On a regional level, Chase has been recognized in many television interviews and magazine articles for his efforts in wildlife and habitat conservation. He is currently a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.