Generation Green and Tahoe Care ambassadors recognized during Lake Tahoe Summit

SAND HARBOR, Nev. - Senator Jacky Rosen of Nevada, the host of Tuesday's Lake Tahoe Summit at Sand Harbor, recognized two Lake Tahoe youth-based service programs during the event.

Senator Rosen recognized the stewards of Lake Tahoe, Generation Green, and the Tahoe Fund Ambassadors, calling them up onto the stage to give them certificates of appreciation for their service.

"We want to recognize the leaders of the next generation, the leaders of tomorrow," said Senator Rosen.

Right before the presentation, Nevada Representative Mark Amodei told the audience about how he worked at Sand Harbor in his youth, washing toilets, cleaning out trashcans, and picking up cigarette butts from the beach.

"0ne day I hope some of them will be standing up here talking about their first experiences at the lake as kids, what it meant to them, and how that transferred that passion into action, whatever that is," Senator Rosen said.

I" want to thank you all," said the senator to the youth. "We are so proud of you and can't wait to see what you're doing next."

Through an innovative program of the US Forest Service and the Great Basin Institute, local high school students are building their futures and a life-long love of the environment during an eight-week work-study program called Generation Green.

This summer, six organizations launched ambassador programs in locations around the Lake Tahoe region to directly address and reduce tourism-related environmental impacts the region regularly experiences.

Every weekend throughout the summer, up to 50 Take Care Tahoe ambassadors have been positioned at popular recreation sites to provide information to Tahoe-Truckee area visitors about the importance of proper trash disposal, trail and wildlife etiquette, wildfire safety and other Leave No Trace principles. There were six programs the ambassadors were part of - Taskforce Trailhead Program, South Lake Tahoe Student Ambassador Program, Tahoe Bike Safety Ambassadors, Keep Truckee Green Ambassador Program, Sustainable Truckee – Trail Host Ambassador Program, and the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association Program. They all wore the same Take Care Tahoe branded uniform to demonstrate a united, consistent approach to the education effort.

Pictured with Gina McCarthey: Isabel Bauwens-Telles, Corey Price, Zachary Norman, Kira Oh, and MK Penollar.