President's Environmental Youth Awards General Content

The PEYA program promotes awareness of our nation’s natural resources and encourages positive community involvement. Since 1971, the President of the United States has joined with EPA to recognize young people across the U.S. for protecting our nation’s air, water, land, and ecology. It is one of the most important ways EPA and the Administration demonstrate commitment to environmental stewardship efforts created and conducted by our nation’s young people. One outstanding project from each region is selected for national recognition. Projects are developed by young individuals, school classes (K-12), summer camps, and youth organizations to promote environmental stewardship. Thousands of young people from all 50 states and the U.S. territories have submitted projects to EPA for consideration. Winning projects in the past have covered a wide range of subject areas, including:

environmental science projects
recycling programs in schools and communities
construction of nature preserves
major tree planting programs
videos, skits, and newsletters that focused on environmental issues

Evaluation results consistently demonstrate that the experience is frequently a life-changing event for many of the young people and sponsors who attend.

The annual deadline for the regional award program is December 31.