HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. -- While a lot of kids like to spend their weekend playing with friends or relaxing with family, one 12-year-old in Hernando County spends his free time picking up trash. And it's all to protect the environment.
 
"I love animals! I love the wildlife," Mason Johnson said.

Mason started volunteering to clean up the county parks and rivers a few months ago. Now, he's leading his own cleanup efforts, calling himself a "Wildlife Warrior." 

He led a group of a few dozen volunteers during a cleanup at Linda Pederson Park on Sunday. 

"Now that I'm older, I can actually sign up and do it myself," he said.
 
Mason stopped by Weeki Wachee Springs State Park a few weeks ago. While the park already has monthly cleanups in the springs and on the river, representatives say every little bit helps.
 
"Every person that gets out there and does something to help clean our environment makes an impact," Weeki Wachee Springs Public Relations Manager John Athanason said. "Mason is that good example that we should all do our part to keep our parks, beaches, and rivers clean."

And Mason hopes his efforts will inspire other young people to take action too.
 
"We got probably over 1,000 pounds of trash already and it just makes me feel good that I'm helping a little bit," he said.

A small effort he hopes will make a big difference.

Mason will also be teaching some educational classes in the county, explaining the impact littering has on the environment. His next class is on Oct. 17 at the Spring Hill Branch Library at 10:30 a.m.