This month we’re celebrating The Adventurous Ichthyologist, Eugenie Clark, and diving into the world of sharks! We are super pumped about this crate because we’re definitely geeked over all things shark related. As we were thinking about this month and what we wanted to share we knew we had to introduce you to one amazing world changer who is working to conserve sharks and help the environment.

Creating music with The Determined Musician celebrating Ella Fitzgerald

We first became acquainted with Zoë last year when she served as a GIRLS CAN! Rep for three months. We were immediately impressed by her passion for sharks, her conviction to stand up for what she believes in, and her determination to make this world a better place. After all, that’s what we’re all about here at GIRLS CAN! CRATE! Friends, we’d love to introduce you to…Zoë!

GIRLS CAN! CRATE Tell us a little bit about yourself. How old are you? What part of the US are you from?
Zoë My name is Zoë and I am a 10 year old shark and ocean conservationist. I live in Oregon.

GCC: When did you first become passionate about sharks?
Z: I pet [sic] my first shark when I was 4 years old. I would ask my family for books about sharks all the time. After I asked for my tenth shark book, my mom realized I really LOVED sharks. I decided to make a science project in first grade about sharks. My project was called “Sharks Are Our Friends”. I asked over 100 people why they are afraid of sharks and I learned people are afraid of what they do not understand. So I realized I needed to start educating people on sharks.

GCC: Why sharks?
Z: They are so beautiful! I really love how they swim, so calm and peaceful.

GCC: How are you working to conserve sharks?
Z: I share petitions and testimony requests on social media. I sign petitions and submit testimonies to protect sharks. Before COVID happened, I was doing classroom presentations to educate kids about sharks. I also started a shirt campaign, with my “Sharks are our Friends” picture I made for my science project. I donate all the profits to Shark and Ocean Conservation groups that I love. (You can learn more HERE)

GCC: How can other future world changers help save sharks?
Z: Educate people, sign petitions, learn what things have shark products in them like make-up, dog treats and dog food. Some stores sell shark meat and shark oil, like Walmart. So I won’t shop there.

GCC: What’s your favorite shark? Why?
Z: My favorite shark is the Scalloped Hammerhead because it is very majestic and is so pretty when it swims. Also it is endangered and that makes me want to protect it even more.

GCC: Who has influenced you the most in your work to conserve sharks?
Z: Rob Stewart. He died in a diving accident right when I just learned about his work to protect sharks. I saw his film called “Sharkwater” and I knew after he died that I had to do the same work he was doing, to help him keep fighting for sharks.

GCC: Favorite fun shark fact?
Z: Sharks are fish but shark skin isn’t made of scales like other fish, they are made of a bunch of little teeth called denticles.

GCC: For kids who don’t live by the ocean, why do you think they should care about sharks and their conservation?
Z: They should care about sharks because sharks help keep the oceans clean. They eat the sick and dying fish and they eat the fish that eat the plants that give us oxygen. If all the fish eat the plants in the ocean, there would be less oxygen.

GCC: Eugenie Clark’s trait is adventurous. So we encourage kiddos, particularly girls, to be risk taking and to know the difference between a good risk and one that’s just dangerous. What do you recommend to encourage risk taking in girls?
Z: I would encourage girls to be strong and follow your heart. Give speeches to spread awareness about what you care about. Educate yourself on what you want to change so you can be confident in what you are talking about.

GCC: What’s the biggest adventure you’ve been on?
Z: I swam with sharks when I was 9 years old (in 2019). It was the most amazing experience I have ever had!!! I made sure I picked a shark diving company that was educated and didn’t use shark cages (those are really dangerous for sharks. They can’t swim backwards if they get stuck in a cage.). I swam with Galapagos and Sand Bar sharks with One Ocean Diving & Research in Hawaii.

GCC: What do you want to be when you get older?
Z: I want to be a Marine Biologist and keep writing books about conservation. I have recently written and published a children’s book called “Coral’s Quest”, about plastic pollution in the ocean. You can get it from Mascot Books or Amazon.

GCC: If you could tell other people one thing about sharks, what would it be?
Z: Sharks are our friends!