A nature-loving Calgary kid is ranking high in a competition to be the next Junior Ranger. No matter how the challenge ends, he will continue protecting the environment, his parents say.
Five-year-old Jack, who was born and (is being) raised in Calgary, has had a green thumb since he was born. His mom, Brooklyn Glaser Laanstra, said his connection to wildlife led to the entry in the Junior Ranger competition.
The competition’s winner receives $20,000 USD, an exclusive wildlife experience with Jeff Corwin, and an appearance in a Ranger Rick Magazine. Corwin is a biologist and conservationist with a show on Animal Planet.
“Jack is in kindergarten, and he absolutely loves nature and all things outdoors. Whenever we go for walks or hikes, he’s always talking to the trees and wanting to hug the trees, and he’s always up in the tree and cares really deeply for animals and protecting nature,” she told LWC.
“We told him about being a Junior Ranger not as a competition, because we don’t want him to feel any sense of competition towards it, but that it’s like a special group of kids who want to protect nature and animals and get really excited about learning new things about animals and he’s really excited about that.”
Currently, Jack ranks third in his group across North America, with the top five being finalized on Thursday, April, 30. Wednesday is a double-vote day.
Glaser Laanstra said that results are purely based on the number of votes, but no matter where he places, Jack will be excited to continue fighting for the environment.
Should he win, meeting one of his idols would be extremely special for Jack.
“Money, aside, the winner has a special exhibition with Jeff Corwin. We haven’t told him (Jack) about that yet, that would be like a dream come true for him.
Local ties leading a nature-loving life
Throughout his life, Jack has always been at home outdoors. Glaser Laanstra said that their family frequents the Calgary Zoo and is in the mountains nearly every weekend.
“When we go for walks and things, Jack wants to bring a garbage bag so he can pick up the trash. He’s just a really soft, sensitive, gentle soul,” she said.
“If we’re on a hike and there’s a tree that’s fallen down, he’ll go up to it and give it a hug and talk about how that’s going to be a nurse log now and he’ll say to the insects and animals around ‘You can come here now because the nurse log will protect you and give nutrients.’”
Jack’s grandfather, who died before he was born, also loved nature. Though they never met, the environment is a bridge between them.
“My dad passed away, so Jack didn’t have the chance to meet him, but he was very much into nature and animals and out hiking every weekend, and it was our way to connect and ground as a family,” Glaser Laanstra said.
“Jack really connects with him in that way and we’ll often climb into the trees to get closer to grandpa.”
Though he’s still young, Glaser Laanstra could absolutely picture a future where her son has a nature-adjacent career.
“He talks a lot about sciences being his career, or even being a forest ranger or a forest firefighter,” she said.
For now, Jack can be found in streams and hugging trees across Alberta.
“He wants to watch all the documentaries to learn about the animals. We go to Canmore almost every weekend, and we’re hiking, camping. We have little ravines and creeks just in our neighbourhood in the city, so we’re trying to bring that nature aspect into the city life,” Glaser Laanstra said.
