11-year-old Naples explorer with passion for wildlife makes mom proud

For most 11-year-olds, a long, peaceful walk might seem boring. But for Timothy Martin, it's nothing short of adventure.

"The kids are homeschooled, so we try to take them out to a lot of field trips," said Vanessa, Timothy's mother.

Somewhere between field trips and family walks, Vanessa has watched her son find his spark.

"He has no problem catching iguanas and the non-venomous snakes and so forth," Vanessa said. Today at Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is no different.

His love for spotting an alligator or learning about a new bug or two led him to compete in Jeff Corwin's Junior Ranger competition.

"Through all the support, he was able to help raise money for the Wildlife Foundation, so it was a win-win either way," Vanessa said.

While Timothy didn't advance in the competition, it was never about winning. It was about being a good neighbor to the wildlife around us.

"Maybe if they weren't there, we wouldn't be here," Timothy said.

He also loves sharing it with those he loves.

"I like doing stuff my mom likes," Timothy said.

While Timothy sees alligators, insects, and wildlife, his mom sees her son, actively curious, connected, and caring. That's a sight worth seeing.

"It feels like a proud moment as a parent to see how he's just being passionate about something," Vanessa said.