Meet Our Founders

Welcome to the driving force behind Nurture Natives, where innovation meets environmental advocacy in the hands of our dynamic youth leaders. With a shared vision of cultivating a world where native biodiversity thrives along our youth. As Nurture Natives grows, we hope our team will grow alongside it. If you or a youth you know is between the ages 11-18 and have a passion for native species and making a difference, message us or submit an application to join our team!

Founder, Director

Esther Bonney

A senior in high school, Esther founded Nurture Natives as a platform to empower youth through native biodiversity restoration initiatives. Esther has been honored with the 2024 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes and an invitation to speak at TEDxHagerstownWomen. Esther actively advocates for youth-led initiatives through various platforms, including her roles with the Maryland Native Plant Coalition, Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay, Friends of Patuxent Board, and the MD 4-H State Council. She was recognized as a 2024 Brower Youth Awards Semi-Finalist and National 4-H Youth in Action Finalist in both 2023 and 2024. Esther plans to pursue a career in environmental law, where she can continue her advocacy and drive change on an even larger scale. Alongside Nurture Natives, Esther enjoys playing the violin and caring for her five goats.

Co-Founder, Youth Leader

Samantha Rutherford

A senior at St. Mary's Ryken High School, Samantha has had an interest in environmental and agricultural sciences from a young age and has worked to better her understanding of the natural world. She is currently a member of the Association of Southern Maryland Beekeepers (ASMB) and is working to become a member of the University of Maryland Master Gardener program. Samantha is a founding member of Nurture Natives and has been involved in helping the Nurture Natives initiative grow, subsequently helping to better inform the public about the importance of maintaining a mutual relationship between humans and the environment. Samantha plans to continue supporting projects such as Nurture Natives and working towards bettering the community through ecological means.

Apply Today

Join our dedicated team of youth leaders and contribute your skills and enthusiasm to our mission. Whether you are passionate about native tree planting, eradicating invasive plants, or educating others about biodiversity, we would love to have you!

nurturenatives@gmail.com