The tour will be held on April 29 and April 30.

The Young Environmental Leaders Program (YELP) will take junior and middle secondary students to a number of schools and businesses who run sustainability programs.

The aim is to inspire the students to undertake similar projects within their own school or community.

Cathy McNab, the Regional Education Officer for Grampians Regional Waste Management Group (GRWMG), is excited about the upcoming tour.

''This program has been running for a few years under the name of Environmental Ambassadors Tour, but this year I chose to revamp the program and focus more on what the students can achieve in their own environments,'' she said.

''For the first time, we will visit other secondary schools that have set up projects to reduce their impact on the environment. It's a chance for our students and teachers to witness other schools' programs and hopefully come away from the tour thinking, I can do that,'' she said.

The YELP is open to year seven, eight and nine students from any secondary school within the municipalities of Ararat or Horsham Rural City Councils and Northern Grampians or Yarriambiack Shire Councils.

Interested teachers are also encouraged to join the tour and should contact GRWMG.

Students need to provide their name and contact details to GRWMG along with a statement of 100 words or less about why they should be chosen for the tour.

They can send the details to GRWMG via email: ed-grwmg@vic.chariot.net.au, post: 38 Wimmera St, Stawell or fax: 5358 4866. Applications for the tour close on March 9. Further information can be sought at http://sites.google.com/site/gram piansrwmg or by calling 5358 5680.

''I'm really pleased about the changes that have been made to the tour for this year and I hope that the students and teachers will be able to get more out if it.

''There are only 30 places available for students, so applications need to come in quickly. This is a fantastic opportunity for local students and teachers and what makes it even better is its free.''