Cooperative Agreement L24AC00257

THIS DUAL-PURPOSE PROJECT SEEKS TO ENHANCE YOUTH AND TEEN ENGAGEMENT BY FACILITATING EXPLORATION ON THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT LANDS IN ALASKA. THE PROPOSED PROJECT AIMS TO OFFER AN OUTDOOR DAYS PROGRAM TO FOURTH-GRADE STUDENTS IN FAIRBANKS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND LAND AGENCIES, LEVERAGING THE ACCESSIBILITY PROVIDED BY THE EVERY KID OUTDOORS INITIATIVE. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO BROADEN THE REACH OF THE OUTDOOR DAYS INITIATIVE, FOSTERING OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND AWARENESS AMONG FOURTH-GRADE STUDENTS IN THE FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT (FNSBSD). WE AIM TO INSTILL AN EARLY APPRECIATION FOR PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT, OUTDOOR PROFESSIONS, AND ESSENTIAL OUTDOOR SKILLS. THE PROJECT ENCOMPASSES A ONE-DAY OUTDOOR EDUCATION EVENT AT TANANA LAKES RECREATION AREA, FEATURING INTERACTIVE STATIONS LED BY LOCAL EXPERTS. STUDENTS, ACCOMPANIED BY TEACHERS OR PARENT VOLUNTEERS, WILL ROTATE THROUGH STATIONS COVERING A RANGE OF OUTDOOR-RELATED TOPICS, INCLUDING WILDLIFE, WEATHER, FISHERIES, GOLD PANNING, ARCHAEOLOGY, AND MORE. THE FORMAT INVOLVES HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES AND LESSONS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE AND EDUCATE PARTICIPANTS.THIS PROJECT CENTERS ON FOURTH-GRADE STUDENTS FROM FNSBSD AS ITS PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES. ENGAGING THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF 250 FOURTH-GRADERS, THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO COLLABORATE WITH A MINIMUM OF FIVE PARTNERS, EACH CONTRIBUTING TO THE FACILITATION OF DISTINCT SKILL SESSIONS. CENTRAL TO OUR OBJECTIVES IS THE ENGAGEMENT OF EXPERTS WHO CAN DELIVER TAILORED PROGRAMMING, FOCUSING ON KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES: ENRICHING YOUTH UNDERSTANDING OF PUBLIC LAND CAREERS, DETAILING THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF LAND MANAGERS, AND OFFERING INSIGHTS INTO CONSERVATION PRACTICES.POTENTIAL SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES MAY INCLUDE INVOLVEMENT FROM THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME, AND FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR BOROUGH PARKS AND RECREATION, LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. SUBRECIPIENTS WILL CONTRIBUTE EXPERTISE, RESOURCES, AND OR LOGISTICAL SUPPORT TO ENHANCE THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM.THIS PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES A MORE EXTENSIVE PUBLIC LAND EXPLORATION EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE FACILITATION OF A MULTI-DAY BACKPACKING EXPEDITION, OFFERED AT NO-COST TO TEN ALASKA TEENS. EACH STUDENT WILL BE NOMINATED BY THEIR COMMUNITY TO ATTEND. WE PRIORITIZE STUDENTS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE A SIMILAR OPPORTUNITY, ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF ALASKA S DIVERSITY, AND ARE INTERESTED IN PUBLIC LAND CAREERS. WE HAVE A SUCCESSFUL RECORD OF RUNNING SIMILAR EXPEDITIONS FOR 15 YEARS WITH THE CHUGACH NATIONAL FOREST. THIS BLM EXPEDITION WILL INCORPORATE A NECESSARY STEWARDSHIP PROJECT, TO BE DETERMINED BY BLM BASED ON NEED EACH SPRING. THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES OF THIS ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM ARE UP TO TEN UNDERSERVED ALASKA TEENS, AGES 15-18. THE SPECIFIC OUTCOMES OF THESE EXPEDITIONS ARE UP TO 1200 STUDENT ENGAGEMENT HOURS ON BLM LAND, A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE PUBLIC LANDS PLAY IN ALASKA, AND FURTHER DEVELOPING COMMUNITY AMONGST ON TEENS THROUGH SHARED EXPERIENCES ON PUBLIC LANDS. EXTENSIVE QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DATA IS COLLECTED BY EACH STUDENT PRIOR TO THE END OF THE COURSE, WHICH WE USE TO EVALUATE AND MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM.