What do wildlife biologist Jeff Corwin and local preschooler Ari Nunez Mallette have in common? They both are raising money for the National Wildlife Federation, a non-profit conservation and environmental education organization that advocates for America’s unique landscapes and wildlife.
Four-year-old Ari is currently ranked among the top five in her age group in the Junior Ranger competition, a national fundraising campaign supporting the National Wildlife Federation. The contest is hosted by Jeff Corwin, sponsored by Ranger Rick magazine, and organized by the fundraising platform Colossal.
Ari, who lives in Foxfire with her family, spends much of her time outdoors exploring local parks and trails. Her mother, Alaina Mallette, says Ari’s experiences in Moore County’s natural areas have helped spark her curiosity about wildlife and the environment.
“She spends most of her free time at the Village Green Park or on the Southern Pines trail system,” explains Alaina. “Her journeys through the longleaf pine ecosystem have inspired her curiosity, not unlike North Carolina’s naturalists Carolista Baum and Margaret Nygard.”
The competition raises funds to support the National Wildlife Federation’s work protecting habitats, conserving wildlife, and providing environmental education programs. Last year’s event raised more than $6.5 million for those efforts.
If selected as the winner, Ari would receive $20,000, appear in Ranger Rick magazine, and have the opportunity to meet Corwin. Her family said any prize money would go toward her future education.
Her family hopes that this competition gives Ari an opportunity to advocate for conservation efforts, as it seems that she is on that trajectory, naturally. Her family describes her as “a budding scientist and young naturalist” and that “any Moore County child who feels the abundance of natural beauty around them can see themselves in Ari.”
Ari has traveled extensively with her family, visiting natural areas in Canada, Mexico, Thailand, and South Korea. Along the way, she has developed a love for meeting new people and exploring different environments.
Ari and her family encourage interested nature enthusiasts to vote for her in the fundraising competition and to “go out and find seed pods on Moore County trails.” Her National Wildlife Federation support page can be found at jr-ranger.org/2026/ari-10bb or tinyurl.com/JrRangerAri.
Voting ends June 4, and the winner will be announced June 19.
Photo via Alaina Mallette.
Abegail Murphy | Assistant Editor
Written by Sandhills Sentinel assistant editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
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