Young Texan Ambassadors
Applications are now closed.
The Young Texan Ambassador Program invites Texans ages 15-25 to help us keep Texas beautiful. Ambassadors are passionate about the environment and are committed to making Texas the best place to live, work and play through volunteerism and leadership. Applications were due on March 5. See our incoming 2021-2022 Young Texan Ambassadors team below!
Questions about the program? Email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Ready to take your volunteerism to the next level and help better the Texas environment?
The Young Texan Ambassador Program seeks to inspire and empower youth to keep our communities clean and beautiful by providing them with resources to:
- Educate on the importance of litter prevention and other environmental efforts
- Spread awareness and organize efforts in their local communities
- Become leaders and capacity builders in their communities
What are the requirements?
- Commit to one year of service as an Ambassador.
- Represent and uphold the mission and values of Keep Texas Beautiful.
- Adhere to local and state ordinances in regards to COVID-19.
- Attend the Keep Texas Beautiful virtual orientation and review the Ambassador handbook.
- Attend at least 4 workshops throughout the year.
- Actively strive to keep Texas beautiful through cleanup efforts and spreading awareness.
- Organize and participate in at least 1 litter cleanup event and submit a wrap-up report for each event.
- Share pictures of your event on your social media and tag Keep Texas Beautiful and other applicable sponsors.
What are the benefits?
- Receive 1 cleanup kit that includes:
- Ambassador t-shirt and bandana
- Trash bag, gloves, hand sanitizer, masks
- Don't mess with Texas® activity book and swag
- KTB swag
- Ambassador t-shirt and bandana
- Resources and tools to help you lead your own cleanup efforts and engage your community
- Opportunities to network with and learn from ambassadors across the state
- Dedicated support from the KTB team
- Opportunities for leadership and development
- Résumé booster and community service hour fulfillment
Cleanup Resources for Ambassadors
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Ready to organize your own Cleanup event? Here's what to do next:
1. Review COVID-19 Guidelines
When picking up litter, KTB recommends participants to do so responsibly and at their comfort level. Please have participants wear a face mask and disposable gloves, and use a litter grabber (when available). Maintain at least 6 feet of distance from passersby and those not from your immediate household.
When participants are finished collecting litter, please make sure their trash bags are securely tied to protect sanitation workers. Advise them to immediately wash their hands with soap and water and hand sanitizer after collecting litter. Please have them dispose of their single-use face masks and disposable gloves properly and in the waste bin. Please follow all CDCl guidelines surrounding COVID-19.
- Printable Flyer! PPE Litter Cleanup Guidance - How to properly pick up littered personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Printable Flyer! Individual Cleanup Guidance - Recommendations for individuals and households to participate in cleanups.
Additional guidelines and resources can be found on the KTB COVID-19 page.
2. Pick a Location
Identify a location in your community that could be cleaned and that is safe and accessible. Come up with a plan to dispose of the trash and recyclables you collect properly. Visit the site in advance of the cleanup date to determine where to set up a check-in station, where to leave bags of trash and recyclables and what areas volunteers will clean.3. Register Your Event with Keep Texas Beautiful
Use this form to request your cleanup supplies and materials. You must also register your event in our events calendar.4. Contact Your Community
Encourage friends, family and colleagues to get involved and help organize the cleanup. Create a Facebook event so interested volunteers can RSVP, and you can easily communicate with attendees. Spread the word through email, social media, and e-invites. You can also print and post event flyers in the area.
ResourcesTo help you communicate cleanup guidance to your affiliate volunteers and community members, we have created these printable resources that include our cleanup guidance and how to safely remove disposable gloves.
PPE Litter Cleanup Guidance - How to properly pick up littered personal protective equipment (PPE).
Individual Cleanup Guidance - Recommendations for individuals and households to participate in cleanups. -
Ready to start cleaning up? Here's what to do next.
Set Up
Arrive early to set up and post appropriate signage for attendees. At your check-in station, ensure you have pens, pencils and sign-in sheets ready for your volunteers.
What to Tell Volunteers
This will depend on the type of event your hosting. Be prepared for everything. Make sure group leaders have a volunteer welcome and safety speech to give. For cleanups, provide a volume to weight estimation sheet and data card. Consider other things you might want from volunteers, such as a photo release waiver.Establish a point-person to stay at the check-in station in case of health emergencies or any late arrivals.
Document the Cleanup
Take before and after photos of the cleanup site as well as shots of your volunteers in action and a final group picture with all of the trash collected. You can submit these with your data card or tag @KeepTXBeautiful online with #GreatAmericanCleanup.
If you're hosting a cleanup, remind volunteers to review the information they entered into the Data Cards and then make sure they submit! Collect all completed paper data forms to submit to Keep Texas Beautiful. Ensure all trash is left in the designated drop-off location and that no materials are left behind as you leave the cleanup location.
Resources -
Finished sweeping up? Here's what to do next.
Submit your Wrap-Up Report
Wrap-up reports must be submitted TWO WEEKS after your event. After your volunteers submit their data online, encourage them to share it on social media and with their local press! We have a great resource to help you with closing out your cleanup - How to Wrap Up your Cleanup.
If you have any questions, or would like to share photos or highlights, feel free to reach out to Keep Texas Beautiful:
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mail: Keep Texas Beautiful
Attn: Don’t mess with Texas® Trash-Off
8850 Business Park Drive, Suite 200
Austin, TX 78759
Survey your cleanup team post-event. Encourage everyone to share experiences, stories and pictures about what they saw. This might encourage others to attend future events—and now is the time to start planning. Let them know about your next cleanup; get volunteers onboard while their enthusiasm is high!Say Thanks
Send out an email saying, “Look what we did!” Include how many friends, family and community members joined in and the weight of trash were collected. Celebrate your accomplishment as a cleanup organizers and ocean advocate. Thank you!
Resource
Meet our Ambassadors
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Ready to take your volunteerism to the next level and help better the Texas environment?
