by Mike Matzinger
A Scout’s commitment to helping others can last a lifetime, and sometimes it begins with a single moment.
In 2024, while attending summer camp, Chino student Aarav Desai witnessed a fellow Scout collapse from severe dehydration during 100-degree heat. That experience inspired him to tackle one of Southern California’s fastest-growing public health challenges: extreme heat.
Today, Aarav is the founder of Conservly, a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that combines advanced AI with hands-on community service to protect vulnerable residents. He developed THRIVE, a machine learning platform that predicts neighborhood-level heat vulnerability across Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Researchers from NYU, USC, and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles are mentoring the project.
But the work doesn’t stop with data. Aarav and a team of student volunteers have already distributed 200 heat relief kits to seniors and unhoused residents, with plans to deliver 300 more this summer. Conservly is also educating local seniors about heat safety, planting trees to reduce urban heat, and advocating for communities most at risk.
Since launching, Conservly has raised more than $8,000 through grassroots support and foundation partnerships, with every dollar going directly toward community programs.
This is Scouting in action. Leadership, service, innovation, and using the skills you’ve learned to make a meaningful difference in your community.
Well done, Aarav. Thank you for continuing to live the Scout Oath and Law long after summer camp.