Litter Hawk Youth Award Program
2026

An Awards Program for Pennsylvania Youth in Grades K through 6th, funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Who wants to be a Litter Hawk?

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is counting on kids in grades K through 6 who care about having clean places to live and play to become LITTER HAWKS! They can help people see how litter and trash hurts our environment through art, words and video. Litter Hawks help people KEEP COMMUNITIES LITTER FREE and inspire them to dispose of their trash and recycling properly.

In support of the Country’s 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, this year’s Litter Hawk Youth Award theme is: Celebrate America250 – Keep It Beautiful!

• WHO: All Pennsylvania students in grades K - 6 are welcome to participate, including individuals, school classrooms, homeschoolers, scout groups, clubs and other organized groups!
• WHAT: Submit a poster, essay or video that shows how you can keep your community litter free. First and second place entries in each grade will receive certificates. All participants will receive a Litter Hawk sticker. Categories are: Poster (K-4), Essay (5) and Video (6).
• WHEN: October 31, 2025, through January 31, 2026. Winners will be announced in April 2026 in coordination with an awards ceremony at the PA State Capitol Building on April 2, 2026, where all winning entries will be on display as part of the 2026 Litter Hawk Youth Exhibit for the entire month of April. 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!
• WHY: To inspire others to take action and keep Pennsylvania communities litter free!

The 2026 application is now closed. Winners will be announced in April.

All entries must address the theme: Celebrate America250 – Keep It Beautiful!

• Create artwork, an essay or a video that highlights Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, the Litter Hawk Program and ways to keep your community litter-free.
• One entry per person.
• Multiple students may work on and submit one video.
• Entries will be judged on creativity and how well it represents the theme.
• All entries become property of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and may be reproduced, distributed, displayed, or published in any media at any time. Original artwork cannot be returned.