Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn Thursday announced applications are being accepted from teenagers for the new Youth Ambassador Program at Pennsylvania state parks and forests.

The deadline to apply is June 1. Youth Ambassadors will begin their 10-month opportunity July 1.

“Youth Ambassadors will volunteer for 10 months to develop a connection with one or more Pennsylvania state parks or forests, and will then help highlight and promote the recreational opportunities, volunteer work, and experiences available at the locations to other young people,” Dunn said. “It’s a great way for teens who appreciate the outdoors to give back to their communities and the environment.”

The first nine host sites for Youth Ambassadors will be:

-- Chapman State Park, Warren County

-- Clear Creek State Forest, Clarion County

-- Forbes State Forest, Westmoreland County

-- Little Buffalo State Park, Perry County

-- Neshaminy State Park, Bucks County

-- Point State Park, Allegheny County

-- Tiadaghton State Forest, Lycoming County

-- Tobyhanna State Park, Wayne County

-- Weiser State Forest, Schuylkill County

Youth Ambassadors must be at least 14 years old, and should not graduate from high school before the end of the program.

“DCNR is looking for new and different ways to involve young people in conservation and outdoor recreation, and it seemed that one way to introduce those opportunities to teenagers would be for them to hear about it from other teenagers,” Dunn said.

They will complete a checklist of activities during the 10 months, including:

-- Use their social media networks to share experiences with the hashtag #DCNRAmbassador

-- Attend park/forest programs to assist staff and communicate with the public

-- Assist with volunteer projects such as maintaining trails or removing invasive species

-- Act as a liaison with youth-related organizations

The program will provide young people with experience for college applications and senior projects; networking opportunities; and recognition of their services.

For more information and an application, visit DCNR’s Youth Ambassadors webpage.

For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website, Click Here to sign up for the Resource newsletter, Visit the Good Natured DCNR Blog,  Click Here for upcoming events, Click Here to hook up with DCNR on other social media-- Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

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