Vick Tan
USA, 17
He/Him
Project: Fish Hut, Build A Reef
An avid fisherman, Vick knows what time outdoors does for both environmental stewardship and mental health. He co-founded Fish Hut to connect young people to nature through fishing, marine restoration, and hands-on environmental education. Fish Hut sets up free community fishing stations, stocked with equipment, in underserved communities across the United States, while its flagship Builder Program teaches elementary school students conservation through outdoor experience — removing the cost that keeps many families from ever trying. The organization engages 80,000+ young people a year, hosts free festivals including Minnesota's largest free fishing event, and is now partnering with the JED Foundation to bring mental health programming into its work. Alongside his brother William, Vick also launched Build A Reef, which uses 3D-printed structures to restore marine ecosystems, mentoring young innovators through the restoration work. His aim throughout is a lifelong connection to nature, and the sense of responsibility that follows.