The Disney Conservation Fund has invested $1 million (around £747,000) into Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots, taking Disney's total investment in the youth programme to more than $7.5 million. The investment was announced alongside a multi-day summit at Walt Disney World for 10 youth conservation leaders from across the US. Roots & Shoots also runs in hundreds of UK schools and youth groups through the Jane Goodall Institute UK.
Article Summary
- New investment: $1 million (around £747,000) from the Disney Conservation Fund
- Running total: Disney's investment in Roots & Shoots is now more than $7.5 million (more than £5.6 million)
- The summit: 10 youth conservation leaders from across the US met at Walt Disney World, with time at Disney's Animal Kingdom and EPCOT
- In The UK: Roots & Shoots runs in hundreds of UK schools and youth groups through the Jane Goodall Institute UK
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Read on for the projects the youth leaders are running and how UK schools and youth groups can join Roots & Shoots.
What Is The Disney Conservation Fund Giving Roots & Shoots?
Disney announced the $1 million investment and it goes to Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots, the youth programme of the Jane Goodall Institute. The programme encourages young people to identify challenges in their own communities and take action to help people as well as animals and the environment.
The late Dr Jane Goodall founded Roots & Shoots in 1991, and it now runs in 75 countries, including every US state and Puerto Rico. This latest cheque takes Disney's total investment in the programme to more than $7.5 million, which is more than £5.6 million at current exchange rates.
Disney says the investment builds on the Disney Conservation Fund's longstanding commitment to inspiring conservation action and connecting children with nature.
| Detail | Figure | Sterling Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| New Disney Conservation Fund investment | $1 million | Around £747,000 |
| Disney's total investment in Roots & Shoots | More than $7.5 million | More than £5.6 million |
| Youth leaders at the summit | 10 | - |
| Roots & Shoots grants the winners helped select | 102 across 32 states and territories | - |
Source: The Walt Disney Company, 26th October 2026. Sterling figures use an exchange rate of $1 = £0.747 (22nd October 2026) and are rounded.
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Does Roots & Shoots Operate In The UK?
Yes. The challenge and summit in this announcement were American affairs, and entry was limited to 13 to 19-year-olds based in the US or its territories, so UK teenagers couldn't have taken part this time. Roots & Shoots itself does run here though, through the Jane Goodall Institute UK, a registered charity in England & Wales.
The UK programme now involves hundreds of schools and youth groups. It works with teachers, educators and young leaders on projects that range from wildlife conservation and environmental clean-ups to climate education and community support. It also runs national campaigns and its own Roots & Shoots Awards, and projects can tie in with science and storytelling lessons across the school curriculum. If you're a teacher, parent or youth group leader and want to get involved, the Roots & Shoots UK website has project ideas, resources and details on joining the programme.
Who Were The Youth Conservation Leaders At Walt Disney World?
The 10 youth conservation leaders were selected through the Hop into the Animal Kingdom Challenge, created with Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots USA as part of the Disney Conservation Fund's 30th anniversary. Each winner also received a small grant from the Disney Conservation Fund to support their project.
Their work covers a lot of ground. Shea Polley runs sea turtle conservation projects in Florida, Cash Daniels campaigns on shark conservation from Tennessee, Nateli Sanderson works on orca and salmon habitats in Washington and Ethan Park is restoring prairie in Texas. Others are planting native pollinator habitats and putting up bat boxes.
At the summit the group spent time at Disney's Animal Kingdom and EPCOT with Disney's animal care, veterinary, science and conservation experts. Each participant was also paired with a Disney mentor who will coach them on careers and education over the next year. The winners also helped pick other youth-led projects for Roots & Shoots funding, which ended with 102 grants across 32 states and territories.
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Disney Conservation Fund Roots & Shoots Investment: Your Questions Answered
How much has Disney given to Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots?
The Disney Conservation Fund announced a $1 million investment (around £747,000) on 26th October 2026. Disney says this takes its total investment in Roots & Shoots to more than $7.5 million (more than £5.6 million).
Does Roots & Shoots run in the UK?
Yes - the Jane Goodall Institute UK runs Roots & Shoots in hundreds of UK schools and youth groups. You can find out more and join on the Roots & Shoots UK website.
Where did the youth conservation summit take place?
At Walt Disney World. The 10 youth leaders spent time at Disney's Animal Kingdom and EPCOT with Disney's animal care, veterinary, science and conservation experts.
What did the Hop into the Animal Kingdom Challenge winners receive?
Each winner received a small grant from the Disney Conservation Fund to support their project and was paired with a Disney mentor for the next year.
