Stewardship and civics is something I've started to take a part in since freshman year, but I never noticed how meaningful what I did was until now. I first dabbled in the topics as a worker for the SCA in York County, where I conserved our parks through trail maintenance and worked alongside the park system to beautify the landscape. Then I volunteered at Bloomsburg University with their summer camp, helping to engage children with the environment through recreational activities. I also landed a volunteer position with the York County Parks, where I now happily manage and clean my adopted trails and enjoy the company of nature while I do so. But now, as a Young Ambassador, I've successfully organized and managed a litter cleanup, assessed the state of recycling in my school, and am soon educating children on litter at a county park! I've never thought of myself as someone who practices stewardship and is civically engaged until this question, but as I'm reflecting on what I've taken part in to answer this question, I have realized that I've touched the soul of stewardship and civics within my community.
To take the spotlight away from myself, seeing what other fellow Young Ambassadors have done is really an eye-opener to their creative ways of thinking and their strength. Nothing speaks stewardship and civics more what other Class of '26 Ambassadors have done, and even though I don't know them better than the back of my hand, I'm proud to see their accomplishments and cheer them on from the background. They, too, are spreading PAYA's message, and knowing the projects some have taken on have really defined stewardship and civics for me.
Being a Young Ambassador allows you to see what changes you've inspired in your community and what you've done to support it. You feel proud of all that you've achieved, and I guarantee that this special feeling is not hitting just me, but my fellow Young Ambassadors of Pennsylvania.

Becoming a Young Ambassador heavily motivated me to spread awareness about the environment and litter. After all, that's the program's main goal! When I was chosen in the fall, I was proud of the title I earned. So many opportunities were opened to me and I was given the power to create change within my community. At the same time, I found another opportunity that would help me spread my message as a Young Ambassador: KPB's Litter Free School Zone. I lunged at program and immediately went to my principle. A few weeks later, I got the "thumbs up" to arrange a high school grounds cleanup. I put up flyers, told all my friends and teachers, had the school announcements spread the information, and gathered the supplies. Although it sounded easy, there were surely bumps along the way: I obtained the supplies a mere two days before the event, completely forgot about scheduling a rain date, and had some miscommunications for sign-ups. But I endured, stayed true to my plans, and listened to my friends' support. In the end, the cleanup had multiple clubs show up, a few homerooms, teachers, my friends, and even a few single people who cared about the cause. In the end, seeing my plans all come together and successfully creating a community was so rewarding. I distinctly remember having the feeling of what some would call "a runner's high." I'm in the process once again for my spring cleanup, and I cannot wait!
Besides my first time organizing a cleanup, I established an Eco-club in my high school. We have the same base down as the PAYA Program, but we're also focused around other environmental topics, from recreational activities to learning about eutrophication. The club is relatively new, but we've already done a few environmentally-minded activities: signed up to volunteer, potted different plants, play litter bingo on a walk, and play jeopardy to see how much we know about the environment! I love meeting up and hearing the different conversations and the buzz of laughter, and I've slowly started to notice how my club sprouted into a tight-knit community. I've also met many passionate kids who I never thought I had anything related to, so it's nice to have even more friendly faces to say "hi" to in the hallways.
Knowing that my school is a Litter Free School Zone and seeing familiar faces from the cleanup and club really instills the fact that I've created change within my school.

As a Young Ambassador, I've learned that I am a truly resourceful, persistent girl who's a natural leader.
When I became a Young Ambassador, I recall looking for other programs that I could get involved in with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. On the website is where I discovered the Litter Free School Zone program, something I likely wouldn't have found by not digging around a little bit. (That's the same place where I found litter education resources prior to when I knew that I'd be teaching children in my community, so when the time came to organize it, I was prepared!) Once the school program was established, I did the same by finding where to gather supplies for the cleanup. I used what I had available to me, and this trait has carried on to my life outside PAYA. For example, when I joined a club through my county parks in the fall, I met wonderful rangers and naturalists. Because of "being in the loop," I was able to work for the Christmas light display at one of the parks. I grew up going there, and I loved looking forward to work each day. Kelsey, the main park "mentor" (if you will), has even helped me organize my education event at the one park! All of this happened by using what's around me, and, it sounds silly, but is thanks to the Keep PA Beautiful website and finding the school program. I suppose the mantra of "just keep [digging]" really works!
Being a Young Ambassador has also showed me how to be persistent. When I was trying to set up the Litter Free program at school, I wasn't really hearing back often and was updated with information. I completely understand that there's more important tasks at hand, but being disregarded for weeks at a time was no feat to deal with. I did not want to seem annoying or "in the way," but I knew if things kept on being pushed back then things would've fell through. I had to email various times and go in to ask for a short time slot to meet. It wasn't in an impatient or rude manner, but more of a nudge to get things going. It seems like something that's not a big deal, but I've seen ideas turn to past thoughts by not being persistent enough. And I certainly didn't want to be advertising the program just to have it not happen. Plus, the Earth needs more advocacy and love, and little steps like this can go a long way, so of course I wanted to get my school in on the program!
Finally, I've grown into a leader. I've certainly mentioned this in the previous paragraphs, so I'll try to not get too in depth. Organizing a litter cleanup and education event sounds much easier than in reality. Taking the reins and forging a path to advertise, network, and get people to come together and is a hard job but it's fun. Same goes for when my Eco-club meets. I love going in front of people and giving them reasons to be there and connect. Being a leader is not ordering someone around, but caring about the cause you're working towards and the steps along the way!