We recently caught up with James Karslake, a young conservationist who spent part of his 12th birthday fighting soil erosion along the Deer Creek Greenway. James has volunteered more than 400 hours of his time to this project, which he researched and worked with a conservation advisor to plan. This is his fourth conversation undertaking around the St. Louis region in the last year and a half. James has been conducting this work in hopes of earning a Hornaday Award, a highly prestigious award the Boy Scouts describe as an “Olympic Medal Bestowed by the Earth.” Earning the award takes a lot of hard work and James is well on his way!