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Schools

Whiz Kid: Jacob Danko

Jacob Danko loves the outdoors, and he wants to educate others about conservation through his work as a Joey Ambassador.

Lots of children like to play outside, but 11-year-old Whiz Kid Jacob Danko took it a step further. His love of the outdoors has gained him international notice.

“When I was little, I always liked to be outside,” Jacob said.

But he became concerned when he learned that often parcels of open land are developed into malls, housing and more.

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“I thought maybe I should try and save this stuff,” said Jacob.

A sixth-grade student at , Jacob can now be found outside doing anything from cleaning a local park to building fish habitats for local bodies of water, to fundraising for international conservation nonprofits.  

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It was Jacob’s work fundraising for Wildlife Warriors that lead to the Upper Moreland boy becoming one of the first Joey Ambassadors in the United States.

Wildlife Warriors is an international nonprofit based in Australia and started by the late Steve Irwin. According to www.wildlifewarriors.org, Steve Irwin’s wife, Terri, continues to serve as a patron to the organization.

“They (Wildlife Warriors) approached him because of his fundraising efforts,” said Lori, Jacob’s mom.

Joey Ambassadors are youth between the ages of 4 and 17 who are committed to the wildlife conservation causes Steve Irwin championed during his life. They fundraise and build awareness of wildlife conservation leading up to Steve Irwin Day, which is every Nov. 15.

“Jacob was such a big Steve Irwin fan,” Lori said.

During his first year as a Joey Ambassador, Jacob was one of only two in the United States, and "he was one out of 12 in the world," according to his mother.

“It was pretty neat,” said Lori.

Jacob has been fundraising for Wildlife Warriors for four years, and this is his third year as a Joey Ambassador.

According to www.steveirwinday.org, there are now 22 Joey Ambassadors worldwide.

Although Steve Irwin was killed in a diving accident in 2006, the Irwin family carries on Steve’s mission of protecting wildlife.

As a Joey Ambassador, Jacob was able to meet Terri Irwin, and her children Bindi and Robert, when the family made an appearance in New Jersey.   

“I asked them a couple of questions about what their favorite place was and what it’s like in Australia,” Jacob said.

In school, Jacob’s favorite subject is science. He also takes a conservation class at Nockamixon State Park, which he has done since he was 5.

“Last year, he worked with the Fish and Boat Commission at Nockamixon to build fish habitats,” said Lori.

He has also taken wildlife classes at the Lehigh Valley Zoo, and by cleaning up the creek.

“When I am older, I would like to go into the conservations field” to educate more people about conservation, said Jacob.

Until then, he’ll continue his work as a Joey Ambassador.

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