We need
heroes
today more
than ever.
I believe there is a hero in us all.
That’s why, in 2000, I founded a national award to honor young people who are making a difference.
Named for my first hero, my mother, the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes celebrates inspiring, public-spirited young people from diverse backgrounds all across North America. Each year, we recognize 25 outstanding young leaders, ages 8 to 18, who have made a significant positive impact on people, their communities, and the environment.
Since its inception, the Barron Prize has awarded more than half a million dollars to hundreds of young leaders and has won the support of the National Geographic Education Foundation, Girl Scouts of the USA, and National Youth Leadership Council, among other organizations.
Visit the Barron Prize website to learn more about the Barron Prize and meet the real life young heroes who will renew your hope.
START YOUR OWN HEROIC JOURNEY
Everyone can be a hero! I’ve compiled these resources to help you start your own heroic journey or inspire young heroes in your life. These videos, articles, books, and more can be used in the classroom or at home – come along and join the hero’s trail.
BOOKS
THE HERO’S TRAIL
We need our heroes, today more than ever. Not just celebrities, but real heroes — people whose character enables them to triumph over great obstacles. And to make a genuine difference to our world.
That is the core of this groundbreaking book. Combining moving profiles of heroic young people with insightful commentary, T.A. Barron eloquently shows that heroes can be lasting inspirations — trail guides on our journeys through life.
THE WISDOM OF MERLIN
From T. A. Barron comes a non-fiction book that explores what is, perhaps, Merlin’s single greatest idea: Magic surrounds us and lives in every person.
The Wisdom of Merlin: 7 Magical Words for a Meaningful Life, expands on that idea. This book holds Merlin’s magical insights – including his seven most magical words – and how they apply to our own lives.
CLASSROOM MATERIALS
We’re delighted to provide free, downloadable, educational materials to teachers, librarians, and homeschool educators to use in exploring the concept of heroes with their students. Available materials include:
- Prinatble posters and maps
- Printable bookmarks
- Links to the T. A. Barron Video Collection
- Book discussion guides
- Printable articles by T. A. Barron
- Inspirational quotes from The Hero’s Trail
- Barron Prize brochure
- The Hero’s Trail Study Guide
- Links to the Dream Big Documentary
- Links to the Inspiring Young Heroes video portal
- Prinatble posters and maps
- Printable bookmarks
- Links to the T. A. Barron Video Collection
- Book discussion guides
- Printable articles by T. A. Barron
- Inspirational quotes from The Hero’s Trail
- Barron Prize flyer
- The Hero’s Trail Study Guide
- Links to the Dream Big Documentary
- Links to the Inspiring Young Heroes video portal
ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS
Washington Post – KidsPost – September 23, 2019
25 Young Heroes Who Are Tackling Environmental And Social Issues
Forbes.com – September 17, 2019
These kids are making the world a better place
Mother Nature Network – September 17, 2019
Meet 20 kids who are changing the world right now
Mother Nature Network – November 1, 2017
A Future So Bright
Sierra Club Magazine — October 25, 2016 | PDF
Here & Now — November 4, 2016 | PDF
Having Kids Won’t Hurt the Planet if We Teach Them how to Save It
Outside Online — September 29, 2016 | PDF
Barron Prize encourages youths who ‘make the world better’
Christian Science Monitor — September 21, 2015
Original Article | PDF
What ELSE do you do?: Five questions for T. A. Barron
Horn Book – Read Roger Blog — April 9, 2015 | PDF
Youth Perspective: Sustainable Innovation for the World
Thomson Reuters Sustainability — April 2015 | PDF
INSPIRING YOUNG HEROES VIDEO PORTAL
Inspiring Young Heroes is a website that features a collection of short videos highlighting the life-changing work of everyday young people. Through their own words, amazing kids narrate their personal journey and show how one person – no matter what age or circumstance – has the power to make a difference. These former Barron Prize winners and their stories will empower everyone to take that first step to make a positive impact on society and our planet.
Parents, teachers, and people of all ages will be inspired by these videos to make changes – big and small – in their communities and in the world! We hope you love these videos of inspiring kids as much as we do, and that you’ll spread them around the globe. It only takes a small spark of goodness to create a flame of positive change that this world needs more than ever.
