Our animations

Welcome to our animations page, where captivating cartoons blend storytelling with activism to shed light on pressing environmental and social issues. As stewards of nature, it's imperative to share stories about safeguarding lands and waters and the diverse communities that call them home.

Dive into animated narratives that unravel the interconnectedness between protecting nature, halting destructive practices like drilling on public lands, and honoring the unsung heroes who champion conservation efforts. Join us on a journey of discovery and empowerment as we advocate for a more just, sustainable and equitable world.

And a huge thank you to Lily Padula, the animator!

Only 14% of US lands are protected from large-scale development. These protected islands that remain are vital for the survival of animals and plants, and so is traveling safely from one island to another. But human development poses a major problem.

Did you know that almost a quarter of the country’s annual climate change emissions can be traced back to fossil fuels on public lands and waters? Fossil fuel companies may extract oil, gas, and coal from public lands, but it’s processed predominantly in neighborhoods where communities of color have lived for generations.

Our first in a series of Public Lands Curriculum animations.

You’ve probably heard many stories about Muir, Roosevelt and Thoreau and how they contributed to the environmental movement. But you probably haven’t heard of Israel and Lancelot Jones, who were essential to the creation of a Florida national park.

Before New York City's Central Park existed, there was a community of predominantly Black residents that lived there called Seneca Village.

Meet Tie Sing — the Chinese backcountry chef who helped create the National Park Service and has a mountain named after him in Yosemite.

Join us as we honor brave individuals like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and so many others who stood up against LGBTQ+ injustice at the iconic Stonewall Inn in 1969. Their resilience and courage sparked a six-day uprising, propelling the modern LGBTQ+ civil rights movement forward.

Learn about the origins of Indigenous Women Hike with Jolie Varela! Jolie, a citizen of the Tule River Yokut, Nüümü (Paiute), and Arapaho Tribes found their nature to be a means of personal healing and a way to bring attention to environmental injustices faced by their own community. Learn how they led a group of Indigenous women on a journey to hike the Nüümü Poyo (the “People’s Trail”) in Pamidu Toiyabe, (also known as the John Muir Trail in California's Sierra Nevada), in an act of cultural reclamation.

Note: It is important to recognize and acknowledge that the Pamidu Toiyabe (Sierra Nevada) encompasses ancestral trade routes and homelands for numerous Indigenous Tribes, including the Yokuts, Miwuk, Kudzidika, Mono, and many others. Each of these Tribes has its unique names in their respective languages for the region and specific areas within this landscape. It's crucial for all of us to understand and respect the diverse Indigenous heritage of this region, and to acknowledge that we are utilizing the Nüümü names, which reflect just one perspective of the rich culture of the land.