Youth and Veteran Organizations Conservation Activities

 

This program seeks to utilize qualified non-profit youth and veteran serving organizations to carry out appropriate natural and cultural resource conservation, education, volunteer service and education projects on Department of the Interior lands through authorized NPS programs.

Active 15.931 National Park Service, Department of The Interior B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 No information available. Various youth conservation corps received funding to carry out conservation, education and training on NPS lands with 5,120 participants.
Fiscal Year 2017 850
Fiscal Year 2018 Over 800 different projects were undertaken throughout the National Park Service by youth participants in youth corps programs/groups.
Fiscal Year 2019 Over 800 different projects were undertaken throughout the National Park Service by youth participants in youth corps programs/groups.
Fiscal Year 2020 Thousands of youth and veterans engaged in conservation efforts throughout the National Park System. Participants contributed to the mission of the National Park Service while developing life skills. The projects promoted and stimulate public purposes such as education, job training, development of responsible citizenship, productive community involvement, and furthering the understanding and appreciation of our nation’s natural and cultural resources through the involvement of youth and young adults.
Fiscal Year 2021 Youth and veterans worked throughout the Service providing interpretive, educational, technical presentations as well as worked in research and conservation efforts to advance their understanding of conservation and protection of public lands.
Fiscal Year 2022 For Fiscal Year 2022, the program awarded funds for 588 new projects in addition to modifications to other existing projects. 16 U.S.C. 1723 (c)(1) Public Land Corps Act Private non-profit institutions and organizations; public and private non-profit academic institutions; quasi-public non-profit institutions and organizations that support youth and young adult career training and development, and education in the areas of natural and/or cultural resource conservation and management. Private non-profit institutions and organizations; public and private non-profit academic institutions; state and local government agencies; quasi-public non-profit institutions and organizations that support youth and young adult career training and development, and education in the areas of natural and/or cultural resource conservation and management. Individuals/families; students; and the general public will receive a benefit from the development and execution of these programs and projects. Documentation demonstrating that an organizations purpose is strongly related or solely for the purpose of youth/student education in a conservation oriented environment. Proof of past performance in the areas of resource management, conservation and cultural resources and assistance to youth. If applying as a nonprofit organization, proof of nonprofit status will be required. Preapplication coordination is required. Consultation and assistance is available from the program office and financial assistance officer in advance of the application submission. No pre-application coordination is required. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Funding announcements for this program, along with registration procedures, application packages and instructions, points of contact, and procedures for submitting applications will be available on www.grants.gov. Proposals received in response announcements on grants.gov are reviewed on the basis of a competitive, merit-based review process, and are rated in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in the announcement. Awards may be made to the highest rated proposals based on the amount of funding available each year. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Varies depending on the type and complexity of the project. Further information will be available for each specific project at the time the funding opportunity announcement is posted on www.grants.gov and may be obtained by contacting the Program Manager listed as the point of contact. None. Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however, the National Park Service will provide applicants with information on why their proposals were not selected for award. Projects may generally be renewed on an annual basis, not to exceed a total of 5 years. If renewals or extensions are applicable to the project, this information will be included in the funding opportunity announcement. When renewals or extensions are applicable, continuation of funding for these activities is at the discretion of Congress and will be subject to availability of appropriated funds. Specific evaluation criteria will be included in the funding announcements posted on www.grants.gov, but will include: Qualifications of the organization or institution; The Secretary may give preference to qualified youth or conservation corps located in a specific area that have a substantial portion of members who are economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged to carry out projects within the area. (3) Past performance in the area of youth conservation corps activities; (4)Organizations ability to reach undeserved and disadvantaged population groups; (5) Offering meaningful, full-time, productive work for individuals between the ages of 15 and 25 in a natural or cultural resource setting; (6) Giving participants a mix of work experience, basic and life skills, education, training, and support service; and (7) Providing participants with the opportunity to develop citizenship values and skills through service to their community and the United States. Funding can be used by organizations to support natural and/or cultural resource conservation projects; youth and young adult vocational/career training; natural/cultural resource conservation focused educational programming; natural resources conservation focused recreation activities (back country camping, fishing etc.). Projects must be connected to DOI/NPS lands or in support of NPS mission objectives through authorized NPS programs. The availability of discretionary funding is determined by various NPS units and/or program offices each fiscal year. Not applicable. Not applicable. Per 2 CFR Part 200.333 - 200.337. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. 25%. Projects completed under the Public Land Corp (PLC) Act require a 25% non-federal match (cash and/or in-kind services) as described in PLC. For those entities that do not qualify for assistance under PLC, 54 U.S.C. 101702(a) Cooperative Agreements, Transfer of Service Appropriated Funds and 54 U.S.C. 101701 (b) Challenge Cost-Share Agreement Authority shall apply, and a 25% non-federal match will be required.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Assistance is provided on a project basis. Most projects are two to three months in duration depending on complexity and other factors. Some projects are as long as a year. Funds are distributed after award through the ASAP payment system. None/Not specified. Jamie Crispin
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240 USA
jamie_crispin@nps.gov
Phone: 9137270766 https://www.nps.gov/subjects/youthprograms/index.htm 14-1035-0-1-303 (Cooperative Agreements) FY 22$28,303,582.00; FY 23 est $30,000,000.00; FY 24 est $30,000,000.00; FY 21$45,675,613.00; FY 20$36,632,870.00; FY 19$38,931,797.00; FY 18 FY 17$37,078,851.00; FY 16$36,580,234.00; - Range: $5,000 -$900,000 2 CFR, Part 200, 43 CFR, OMB Circulars, standard forms, and program information. Fiscal Year 2016 No information available. Youth corps volunteers and member completed site improvement projects throughout the National Park Service.
Fiscal Year 2017 Internship Program: This project focuses on placing undergraduate and graduate students in natural and cultural resource focused positions in national parks across the nation. Conservation Crew Program: This project utilizes a crew of 6 young people and 2 young adult leaders to perform trail restoration work in a national park. Recreation/Education/Engagement Program: This project involves middle school age youth participating in outdoor recreation activities in parks across the country while also learning about the importance of clean water, habitat restoration, biology and performing volunteer service cleanup work.
Fiscal Year 2018 Hundreds of youth learned about conservation and ecology through various projects across National Park Service lands.
Fiscal Year 2019 Hundreds of youth learned about conservation and ecology through various projects across National Park Service lands.
Fiscal Year 2020 Youth and Veterans learned about conservation and ecology through various projects across the National Park Service. Funded organizations worked cooperatively with the NPS in developing and executing projects such as trail development and maintenance; historic and scientific research; interpretation; forest and timber management; archaeological conservation; native plant habitat restoration and rehabilitation. Projects also secondarily include educational and recreational activities that have natural and cultural resource conservation components.
Fiscal Year 2022 Awards support the development of programs and projects in the areas of employment, education, volunteer service and recreation. The core audiences include youth and young adults up to age ages to 30 years of age and veterans 35 years and under for employment opportunities; and early as 8 years and up individuals for education, volunteer service and recreation opportunities. Many of the national programs and projects funded and managed by the Youth Programs Division have a special emphasis on diversity and inclusion (racial, ethnicity, economically and socially disadvantaged and/or physical disability). These programs are designed to support the priorities of the National Park Service while providing opportunities for the engagement and development of a wide range of young people from all demographic backgrounds. These programs and projects also provide a cost-effective way for parks to engage underserved demographic groups, build stronger ties with gateway communities and fill gaps in capacity that protect and enhance the natural and cultural resources that the NPS are charged with protecting. These programs and projects also fill gaps in staff capacity thereby enhancing and expanding the ability of the NPS to support its’ public lands and the visitor experience. The cumulative impact of these programs also results in increased awareness and access to our nation’s public lands while promoting natural and cultural resources conservation ethics to our nation’s citizens and others. Participants in these youth employment programs also assist the Service with developing the next generation of employees as well as providing a well-trained pipeline for non-profit organizations supporting the mission of natural and cultural resource conservation and skilled craft persons in the vocational trades. These programs and projects provide a positive economic impact in rural and urban communities while also providing hands on training in a wide variety of professional and vocational fields. Developmental programs like internships and crew based focus is: Skill development Clear performance goals and objectives Safe working environment that is accommodating and inclusive Links to potential NPS career opportunities Living wage Experiences and products have clear positive value to the public and the natural and/or cultural resources  Support from mentors and assistance with NPS job search