Blue Crew Recycling Ambassadors banner

Apply to be on the Blue Crew!

The position is open to any current Penn State students who are:

Three Tailgate Ambassadors in Tailgate Ambassador shirts standing in front of Tailgate Ambassador banner.

Blue Crew, formerly known as Tailgate Ambassadors, standing in front of the Tailgate Ambassador banner at a home football game.

  • Passionate about recycling or the environment
  • Enjoy talking with people about recycling and about what actions they can take to improve the environment

Successful applicants will be willing and able to promote sustainability and improve the fan experience in tailgating lots on game days. Blue Crew members will staff, on a rotational basis, an informational tent near Beaver Stadium to engage fans in recycling games and give away prizes.

In 2026-27, the Blue Crew will also support game day waste reduction and recycling at hockey, wrestling, and/or home basketball games.

The Blue Crew can expect to work at least four hours every home game day and. Exact times may be dependent on the kickoff or start time. For home football games, shifts will finish at least 30 minutes before kickoff.

Responsibilities

  • Work seven home games for the fall season
  • Work up to 10 home hockey, wrestling, and/or home basketball games
  • Actively participate in orientation training
  • Complete game day reflections to help improve the program and Ambassador experience
  • Engage with fans, answering questions and promoting a welcoming Penn State environment
  • Distribute blue recycling bags to football tailgaters and ensure fans know what to put in them
  • Assist fans with various gameday questions
  • Assist with setup and teardown of Blue Crew booth
  • Staff the Blue Crew booth and facilitate interactive activities
  • Walk around football tailgate lots passing out blue and white bags and interacting with fans
  • Nominate football tailgates for “Pepsi’s Recycling Tailgate of the Game” award
  • Other duties as assigned

Training and resources will be provided.

We prioritize supporting students who are working their way through college and will ask that applicants consider eligibility for Community Service Federal Work Study at Penn State.

See the Blue Crew position posting on Workday.

We're seeking enthusiastic volunteers to support the Blue Crew Program. Volunteer responsibilities include interacting with fans in the tailgating lots, educating them on what, how, and where to recycle, facilitating recycling-themed games and activities at the Blue Crew tent, and providing general support for the Blue Crew team. 

Volunteers may receive both monetary donations toward THON fundraising or general fundraising efforts and service hours, depending on the needs of your organization. Your organization will receive a minimum of $150 for providing at least three volunteers. Each volunteer is expected to complete at least four hours of service. For each additional volunteer beyond the initial three, your organization will receive $50 per person, assuming the four-hour commitment is met. As a volunteer, refreshments and training will also be provided. 

We will be in touch the day after the volunteer registration deadline to confirm the number and names of volunteers, as well as provide a schedule for that specific game day. If you want, your organization can sign up for multiple days and earn service hours/compensation for the game days you attend. Please sign up HERE if you are interested. 

Event: Volunteer Sustainability Ambassador to Football Games  

Date & Time: Schedule is based on the start time of each home football game; please see the attached game-day schedule example for more details.   

Location: Tailgating lots at Penn State home football games. Please meet at the Penn State OPP Building in the morning. 

Volunteers Needed: This is game and shift dependent, see sign-up for details!  

Sign-up Deadlines:  

  • August 29th for Game 1 
  • September 12th for Game 2 
  • September 19th for Game 3 
  • October 3rd for Game 4 
  • October 24th for Game 5 
  • November 7th for Game 6 
  • November 14th for Game 7 

 

Organizations should submit their sign-up by the listed deadline for the game(s) they wish to volunteer. We will contact you within one week of receiving your sign-up with additional details and next steps. 

 

Sign Up Link – https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0448ACAD22A5F4CE9-64651062-blue#/ 

How to Have a Sustainable Tailgate

Game day is one of Penn State’s biggest traditions, and every fan can play a role in making it more sustainable. Small choices, like recycling correctly and using reusable items, can make a big difference and support Penn State’s commitment to sustainability. Check out these tips to make your next tailgate more memorable and environmentally friendly! 

Image with wording that reads Recycling correctly helps ensure valuable materials can be turned into new products instead of ending up in a landfill. Our Blue Crew will pass out recycling bags for empty cans and bottles; these bags can also be found on stands placed around the tailgating lots. We encourage Penn State fans to keep the lots clean. Using these bags to collect empty cans from your tailgate is very simple; once finished tailgating tie these bags up and leave them in your reserved spot, dedicated workers and volunteers work together to clean these bags up! 

At Penn State Football Games, please sort your waste appropriately into the following bags:  

  • Blue Recycling Bags* 
    • EMPTY Plastic Bottles (clear or colored) 
    • EMPTY Glass Bottles (clear, green, or brown) 
    • EMPTY Aluminum Cans 
  • Clear Trash Bags 
    • Food waste 
    • Paper towels and napkins 
    • Chip bags and candy wrappers 
    • Plastic wrap 
    • Disposable cups and plates 
    • Any other item that cannot be recycled  
*Before recycling, empty liquids from bottles and cans, and leave containers uncrushed to help the recycling process.  

If you are unsure where an item belongs, ask a Blue Crew member. They’re happy to help! 

Choosing reusable and energy-efficient products is one of the easiest ways to reduce waste and emissions on game days. 

Image of an orange solar powered portable solar charger.

Portable solar charger (image source)

Consider bringing or conserving energy by: 

  • Recyclable or reuseable silverware and dishware 
  • Invest in reuseable cups, or cups made from recycled or plant-based materials 
  • Reusable food storage containers – high-quality coolers that keep your food/drinks cold is an excellent way to reduce waste from plastic ice bags 
  • Reusable tablecloths and decorations that can be used throughout the season  
  • A portable battery station that can be recharged with solar panels 
  • Limiting vehicle idling once parked 
  • Maintaining grills and other equipment to ensure maximum efficiency  

Planning ahead helps reduce food waste while making cleanup easier.  

A few tips include: 

  • Shop locally!  
    • Utilizing local beer distributors and grocers is a great way to improve the local economy and reduce the carbon footprint of your tailgate 
  • Purchase only the amount of food your group is expected to eat  
  • Save leftovers for another meal instead of throwing them out 
  • Choose larger containers instead of individually packaged snacks to reduce waste 

Every fan has the opportunity to make a difference.  

You can help by: 

  • Encouraging friends to recycle correctly  
  • Sharing sustainable tailgate tips with others 
  • Leading by example throughout the season  
  • Visiting the Blue Crew tent to ask any questions about recycling and waste reduction  

Make sure you have:  

  • Packed reusable supplies 
  • Brought only the food you’ll need 
  • Recycled bottles and cans properly 
  • Disposed of trash correctly 
  • Turned off generators and unnecessary equipment  
  • Packed up all personal belongings 
  • Left your tailgate area cleaner than you found it