Interpretation and Resource Management Interns | NPS 18 NERO 0026

Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS 18 NERO 0026

The National Park Service (NPS), within the Department of the Interior, issued a public notice for a grant-related action titled "Interpretation and Resource Management Interns" (Funding Opportunity Number: NPS 18 NERO 0026). This notice is explicitly not a request for applications. Instead, it signals NPS's intent to make a single task agreement award under an existing Master Cooperative Agreement that had already been competed previously or otherwise justified as single-source. The master agreement referenced is P15AC00015, established between NPS and American Conservation Experience (ACE), and the mechanism for support is a cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.931. In practical terms, this means the work is planned to be carried out through that established partnership framework rather than through an open competition at the time of this announcement.

The core purpose of the project is workforce and youth development through hands-on conservation and public-service experiences on public lands. The project is designed to place 7 youth in service-based intern roles that channel volunteer energy into tangible park improvements while also building career-relevant skills. The program is framed as an investment in developing skilled workers and engaged citizens, with an emphasis on cultivating future leaders and long-term stewards of natural and cultural resources. The "interpretation" aspect points to public-facing education and engagement, while "resource management" emphasizes on-the-ground and technical conservation work that supports park operations and ecological health.

Alongside the developmental benefits for the participants, NPS outlines a substantial list of expected on-the-ground outcomes. The work plan includes managing 100 acres of exotic invasive vegetation and treating 100 acres of land affected by forest pests, both of which are common priorities for maintaining ecosystem integrity and protecting native habitats. It also includes monitoring water quality parameters across more than 30 tributaries and primary waterways, reflecting a focus on baseline data collection and ongoing environmental condition tracking. Another element involves increasing scientific knowledge regarding amphibian responses to pesticides, suggesting targeted monitoring or research support that could inform broader management decisions around chemical exposure and sensitive species.

The project also supports park infrastructure and information management needs. Planned tasks include mapping underground infrastructure on public lands, which can improve maintenance planning, reduce risk during field operations, and support long-term asset management. It further includes sharing and organizing digital assets, indicating administrative and interpretive support work that helps parks better manage photos, documents, datasets, and other materials critical to operations and public communication.

Education and public engagement are prominent deliverables as well. The interns are expected to contribute to teaching fourth graders about environmental topics, which aligns with common NPS education goals and youth outreach programs. In addition, the project includes engaging the broader public through activity-oriented park programs, reinforcing the interpretive mission by connecting visitors with park resources through guided activities, demonstrations, or hands-on learning opportunities.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary, with the funding instrument listed as a cooperative agreement and the activity category identified as employment, labor, and training. The eligible applicant type noted in the source data is nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), though the announcement itself makes clear that NPS intends to award under the existing master agreement rather than solicit new applications. The notice lists an expected single award, with an award ceiling of $45,590. Key dates in the posting indicate it was created on April 20, 2018, with an original closing date of April 30, 2018, consistent with the notion of a public notice window rather than an open application period.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Interpretation and Resource Management Interns" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.931.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 20, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 30, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $45,590.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for NPS 18 NERO 0026

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