Environmentally conscious 10th through 12th grade students are invited to help preserve Pennsylvania’s natural resources through the Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania program.

The program empowers young Pennsylvanians to train and learn from leaders across the private sector, state government, local media and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to protect Pennsylvania’s environment and build leadership and problem-solving skills.

“Pennsylvania’s ecological beauty and sustainability come from hard work on the ground level,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Through litter cleanup and prevention, stream restoration, and empowering their friends and neighbors, the next generation of environmental leaders are setting the standard for the rest of us.”

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful will provide education and training to program participants on topics related to the impact of litter on roadways, litter prevention, waste management and recycling, civic engagement and public policy, volunteer management and social media marketing. In addition, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has partnered with industry leaders, Columbia Gas — NiSource Charitable Foundation and Dow to provide Job Shadow Days to select ambassadors.

Ambassadors will serve a one-year term from September 2026 through May 2027 and represent and uphold the mission and values of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful.

Program requirements include: attending six mandatory virtual education sessions; conducting a community assessment and creating a summary presentation; organizing a community cleanup event through Pick Up Pennsylvania and conducting one community education event or activity.

Applications are being accepted through June 10. Students will be chosen through a competitive application process. Students interested in applying should visit keeppabeautiful.org and choose Programs, Education then Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania or contact Kylie McCutcheon at 724-836-4121 x114 or kmccutcheon@keeppabeautiful.org.