Reminder: Keep PA Beautiful Accepting Nominations For Litter Hawk Youth Award Thru January 31

On November 19, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful reminded students it is accepting nominations for the Litter Hawk Youth Award Program through January 31 to recognize students in Kindergarten through 6th Grade, who complete a litter or beautification project specific to their grade level. 

Kids can participate individually or as part of a lesson initiated by schools, home-schools, scout troops, 4-H clubs, environmental clubs or other organized groups.

The Litter Hawk Youth Award Program is a way for kids to share their hope, optimism and concerns about litter and inspire others to care for their communities through art, words or video. 

This year’s Litter Hawk Youth Award theme is: Join the Greatest American Cleanup! 

Show us how you can keep your community litter free for America’s 250th birthday, in support of the Greatest American Cleanup, Keep America Beautiful’s national three-year campaign to motivate, educate and celebrate communities to clean up and green up ahead of the Country’s 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026. 

Projects include:

-- Grades Kindergarten through 4 - Poster 

-- Grades 5 – Essay 

-- Grade 6 – Video  

First and second place in each grade level will be awarded certificates. All participants will receive recognition of participation with a Litter Hawk sticker. 

Winners will be announced in April 2025 in coordination with an awards ceremony at the PA State Capitol Building where all winning entries will be on display as part of the 2025 Litter Hawk Youth Award exhibit. 

All winners and their families, guardians and teachers are welcome to attend. Special guests will include representatives from the Department of Environmental Protection and America250PA.

“We are excited to see how Pennsylvania students feel and think about litter in their neighborhoods, school and other favorite places. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful believes that engaging youth in protecting the environment not only creates a direct impact on changing behaviors and attitudes, but also influences their friends and families,” said Stephanie Larson, Communications and Program Manager, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “We are all responsible for keeping our communities clean and beautiful. This program provides a fun and easy way for students to illustrate respect for the environment and their community.”

The Litter Hawk Youth Award program was created with funding provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.  Questions should be directed to Stephanie Larson at slarson@keeppabeautiful.org or 724-836-4121 ext. 104.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, visit their YouTube Channel.

Resource Link:

-- Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Announces Litter Hawk Youth Award Program Winners  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Wilkes-Barre Times: Volunteers Remove Thousands Of Tires Along Sugar Notch Trail  [Organized By Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority, Eastern PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Earth Conservancy, Luzerne County Conservation District, Keep Northeastern PA Beautiful]

-- Reading Eagle: Volunteers Cleanup Area Around Tulpehocken Creek In Berks 

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Pennsylvania Should Ban Single Use Plastic Bags - By Sedona Boyle, Lehigh University Student

-- Post-Gazette: Styropek Seeks Buyer For Old Plastics Manufacturing Plant Set To Close In January

[Posted: November 19, 2024]  PA Environment Digest