Sprout With Clout: Boy Backs Nature

“I just kept seeing the space for wildlife in this county get smaller and smaller. We’ve got to have room for the coyotes, bobcats, red-tail hawks, brown owls, pond turtles, California tree frogs, Southwestern toads, the California quail, the gray fox, the mule deer. Did I mention the mountain lions?”

The environmentalist lecturing me wasn’t reading from a list. These animals are part of his everyday vocabulary. And he isn’t all talk.

Never mind that Chris Paul of Laguna Hills is only 10 years old. His environmental accomplishments are impressive.

Just a few months ago, Chris started an environmental fund for the Rancho Mission Viejo Land Conservancy that is now well over $1,600.

He’s gotten his school, St. Margaret’s Episcopal in San Juan Capistrano, involved in penny drives and crushing cans. He developed a flier about his environmental concerns and passed it out in his neighborhood. He helped put together a fund-raising petition for the conservancy and began distributing it, with a $1 donation per signature. He’s got close to 150 signatures and has set a goal of 1,000.

Ten years old. Laura Cohen, director of the conservancy, said she first heard about Chris in August. The fourth-grader’s science teacher, Joanne Suttile, called her to say that Chris wanted to donate $25 in birthday money to the conservancy. He had been on a nature walk at the 1,200-acre wilderness reserve in the foothills just east of San Juan Capistrano and was impressed with the conservancy’s work.

The conservancy was created eight years ago as a joint venture among private landowners, the county, housing developer Rancho Mission Viejo and the city of San Clemente to protect the foothills against future development. Its hikes and nature walks offer chances to spot many of the animals Chris cited to me.

Cohen, not wanting to deprive a youngster of his birthday money, gently told Chris’ teacher that $25 didn’t really do that much. Most of the conservancy’s support comes in large block grants.

“But then I called her back,” Cohen said. “I thought, here is a student who would rather spend his birthday money to save the environment than to buy something for himself. We need to encourage that, not turn it away.”

So the conservancy accepted Chris’ money, and developed an ongoing relationship with him for future fund-raising. It now has a Chris’ Fund for Nature.

I asked his mother, Kelly, who also teaches at St. Margaret’s, if she wasn’t just bursting with pride to have a child with such adult-minded concerns.

“Oh, you bet we’re proud,” she said. “Chris has always been tenderhearted. We were surprised about the birthday money, but he just felt compelled to do something important with it.”

His science teacher Suttile relates a revealing story about Chris from his third-grade year. As part of a plant studies project, the class was growing potatoes outside the classroom. Problem was, when the youngsters dashed out to recess, they trampled on the potato plants. So here came Chris, with his father, Michael, bringing in wiring for a small fence to protect the potatoes so they could grow.

Seems to me, if we’re raising a generation of youngsters who care enough to protect potatoes, our future environment has a pretty good chance of survival.

By the way, Chris Paul wanted to make sure that we knew that his close friend, Eric Bostwick, has been a big help on many of his projects.

Oh, and Chris added, did he remember to mention the desert cotton tail rabbit? And the Western screech owl? They need protection, too.

Many of you readers will be celebrating Christmas on Friday, a time when we try to remember that it’s better to give than to receive. Chris Paul has given us raised awareness about the animals we share this county space with. Not a bad credit for a 10-year-old’s resume.

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Jerry Hicks’ column appears Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Readers may reach Hicks by calling (714) 966-7823 or by fax to (714) 966-7711, or e-mail to jerry.hicks@latimes.com