At just 13 years old, Josie Leisl is already leaving her mark—not only on her Lake Forest neighborhood but also on the global efforts to protect endangered species. A rising 8th grader at Echo Trail Middle School, Josie is the oldest of four siblings in the Leisl family. She shares her home with her parents, Jessica and DJ, and her younger siblings: DJ (11), Luke (9), and Emma (5). The family has called Lake Forest home for the past three and a half years.

Josie is a dynamic teen with a love for all things creative. While she’s tried her hand at ice hockey, swimming, and flag football, her heart truly belongs to dance and musical theater. Off the stage, she expresses herself through piano and a craft that has taken on an inspiring life of its own—crocheting.

It all began with a simple desire to learn. Josie taught herself to crochet by following a YouTube tutorial, starting with a blanket to get the basics down. Once her confidence grew, she received a Wooble crochet kit for Christmas and completed her first animal—a penguin. From there, a new passion took flight.

Today, Josie has created over 15 crocheted animals, experimenting with new stitches, colors, and techniques along the way. But this isn’t just a hobby for Josie—it’s a mission. Inspired by her deep love for animals and passion for conservation, she launched her own small nonprofit effort: Creations for Conservation. During neighborhood garage sales and events, Josie sells her handmade crochet animals and donates 15% of her proceeds to organizations like Save the Elephants and the Sloth Conservation Foundation.

For Josie, crocheting is more than a pastime—it’s a relaxing and creative outlet that allows her to make a difference, one stitch at a time.