Fredericton teen wins $5,000 Earth Day Scholarship.

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While most 13 year olds are riding bikes or playing video games, Patrick Simpson was planting trees. Hundreds of them, to be exact, all along the St. John River.

He found out about the bur oak -- an endangered species in this province -- from his father. A survey in the late 1990s found out there were only about eight stands of the tree left in New Brunswick. For Simpson, who was 13 at the time, the fear of loss of this "useful species" was enough incentive to get planting.

Four years later, Simpson, 17, has planted more than 350 trees and garnered more than a little recognition for his work: he was recently awarded one of 15 national Toyota Earth Day Scholarships of $5,000.

"I've always been interested in the environment. Ever since I was really young we've been going out for hikes and just enjoying the outdoors," Simpson says, adding that his family was always environmentally-conscious, composting and helping with neighbourhood clean-ups since he was a child. "I think that everybody needs to do their part and your own community is the best way to do it."

But it didn't end there. Simpson, an active member of his Fredericton High school community, began putting together presentations on tree preservation and replanting, as well as getting involved with trail clean-ups and pollution awareness campaigns.

He was a recent recipient of the New Brunswick Environmental Leadership Award, and has been asked to present the project internationally, including at symposiums in Japan, Malaysia, Dubai and Norway.

"There was definitely a language barrier but everyone there was interested in the environment," he said of his international presentations. "It was a good concentration of people interested in the environment. Everyone was paying attention and everyone was listening, it was easy to get my point across...it's applicable to any tree that might be endangered in their area, so it's valid information."

He adds: "I definitely learned some things about recycling, too. There was a lot of concern from people in China about the recycling of phone books, that's a big waste of paper and we get them every year. If we recycle those it's a good thing, and of course the problem is magnified in China. And another concern is plastic bags, we should be thinking about using reusable bags."

Simpson, who works at Sobeys, says he sees more and more people buying the reusable 'green' bags and filling them up on a regular basis.

As well as his environmental efforts, Simpson has his plate full: he plays hockey, plays violin in several orchestras, and enjoys woodworking -- including making his own boat.

Organizers say it's not at all uncommon to see this level of environmental interest from someone on Canada's east coast.

"We get more entries from [Atlantic Canada] per capita," says Jed Goldberg, President of Earth Day Canada. "Maritimers are people that have a strong sense of the environment. I mean, with so much of life revolving around the sea and water, that's certainly a big driver. I know with the effects of climate change being so obvious, fish stocks declining so badly and violent weather, there's a tremendous level of concern and I know people in Canada are desperately seeking answers and action, and we're just very happy that we've had the response we've had."

The environment is always a concern, especially with the recent flooding in New Brunswick. But, Simpson says, his trees are luckily flood-resistant.

"I'd have to say that you do enjoy the luxury of living on planet earth," he adds, "so I think you should do your part to help out."

To see if Patrick wins the national Toyota Earth Day Award, check http://www.earthday.ca after May 22.