Kate Krehel, 19, has been a youth leader for Ridgeview Conservancy, an organization that strives to save forests and expose youth to nature, for almost 3 years. In addition to trail work and removing invasive species, she has educated elementary and middle school children in local schools about the importance of forests and the impact of climate change on a local and global scale. She was a member of the NJ Forest Task Force, a group of environmental organizations and others throughout New Jersey who, in collaboration with Senator Smith, discussed critical issues concerning New Jersey’s forests and solutions. She is currently taking a gap year between high school and college to explore her interests.