America250PA brought its Keystone Classroom Initiative to Penn-Kidder Campus in Carbon County Wednesday.

The program is an effort to engage Pennsylvania youth and educate them about the Commonwealth and our shared Pennsylvania story in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.

“America250PA is so excited to continue the Keystone Classroom Initiative today in Carbon County, to engage our next generation of Pennsylvanians at an age appropriate level,” said Cassandra Coleman, executive director of America250PA.

“This program will allow us to visit with over 50,000 Pennsylvania students all across this Commonwealth by July 4, 2026, when this historic anniversary rolls around,” she continued.

Several volunteers and guest readers joined America250PA in Kindergarten to fourth-grade classroom readings, mincluding Carbon County Commissioner Michael Sofranko; Carbon County Controller Kayla Herman; Carbon County Prothonotary Kayla Semmel; Michele Mazzola, Jim Thorpe Area School District Board of Education; the Office of U.S. Sen. Bob Casey; the Office of State Rep. Doyle Heffley; Kristen Griffiths, Miss Moraine State’s Teen 2024; and the Pennsylvania State Police.

In addition, mascots helped to distribute the America250PA swag bags to the students, including Archie, mascot of Misericordia University, and Big Herc, mascot of the Jim Thorpe Olympians.

The swag bags contained fun materials from America250PA - a T-shirt, pencil, and an originally designed Pennsylvania coloring book - and other treats from Pennsylvania product sponsors: The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General, The Hershey Company, Crayola, Utz Quality Foods Inc., and Natural Food Group.

The program reached about 295 students in kindergarten through fourth grade.

Holly Mordaunt, principal at Penn-Kidder Campus, said, “I am excited for our students to learn about Pennsylvania. Many move to our area from out of state and do not know much about where they live.”

The Keystone Classroom Initiative is a storytelling and visitation program for kindergarten through fourth grade classrooms, children’s hospitals, and youth camps across the Commonwealth.

Along with an age-appropriate historical re-enactor, storyteller, local celebrity, and/or mascot, America250PA will be visiting children across Pennsylvania to educate them about their shared Pennsylvania story, as well as distribute an originally-designed America250PA Coloring Book and other Pennsylvania treats in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.

The program was generously sponsored by presenting sponsors, Hershey Company, Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, The Hawk Family Foundation, UPMC & UPMC Health Plan, Pennsylvania School Boards Association, the University of Pittsburgh, Access, and Allied Services.

To learn more about the Keystone Classroom Initiative and America250PA, visit www.America250PA.org or follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.