Most kids spend their weekends playing outside. Cash Daniels chose to change the world.

At age seven, in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Cash looked at the litter choking his beloved Tennessee River and decided to do something about it. What began with small cleanups quickly grew into a full-blown mission: remove waste, protect wildlife, and show that even one determined voice can spark a movement.

Today, The Conservation Kid shares Cash’s story and the ripple effects of his leadership. Six years after his first cleanup, Cash continues to haul discarded fishing line, plastics, and other waste from the Tennessee River system. Each piece removed is one less threat to the birds, fish, and mammals that depend on clean water to survive.

The film also introduces the Tennessee River Gorge Trust, an organization working to protect the river’s ecosystem at scale. They invited Cash to their bird observatory, where he saw firsthand how his grassroots efforts connect to larger conservation science. Together, their work paints a picture of what’s possible when passion meets partnership.

The Conservation Kid isn’t just a story about youth activism, it’s a reminder that change doesn’t wait for adulthood. Cash’s example proves that courage and consistency, no matter your age, can shift the trajectory of a river’s health.

The Tennessee River is stronger today because one kid chose to care. And through his story, countless others are now joining the fight.