Connor, Hayley, and Emma Gilbert

Half of the proceeds from the teens' 'Polar Bear Gear' help fund a program that sends kids to the Arctic North.

This week we heard big news from Washington: Polar bears are now listed as “threatened” and have additional protection under the Endangered Species Act. But before the Department of Interior’s national call to action, a set of triplets in Maryland were taking action in their own way.

Sixteen-year-old Connor, Hayley and Emma Gilbert started Polar Bear Nation. The teens partnered with Polar Bears International last year to help fund a program that sends kids to the Arctic North. PBI's Adventure Learning Camp creates Arctic Ambassadors, or students who educate other young people on climate change and its effect on polar bears.

The triplets are busy selling their "Polar Bear Gear," with half of the proceeds going to scientific research and outreach programs at PBI. Certainly they are happy about the news this week. But, the Gilbert teens are quick with a list of facts pointing to their conclusion that a lot more has to be done for the bears.

Update: Watch the CNN.com Live interview