BLM NM offices have multiple opportunities to introduce interns to careers in the BLM under the various natural and cultural resource programs

This federal Cooperative Agreement award from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), under the Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands program (CFDA 15.243), provides $996,201.66 to support American Conservation Experience (ACE), a non-profit organization, in delivering conservation services and workforce development opportunities across public lands in New Mexico.

The award enables ACE to recruit and engage youth, aged 16-30 (with veterans up to age 35), in a range of hands-on natural resource management activities, including terrestrial data collection, habitat restoration, invasive species control, and cultural resource preservation. These projects aim to provide participants with meaningful work experience, technical skills, and an increased understanding and appreciation of public lands, while also expanding the capacity of the BLM to steward these environments. The award has a performance period from September 2024 to July 2027.

These opportunities provide work experience to youth for their careers and educational benefits. This will be accomplished by providing youth with opportunities to gain experience, learn about public lands, and further their understanding and appreciation of natural resources. From this they will gain an increased appreciation and understanding of our public lands and of the value of public service and are likely to become life-long advocates for those values. The projects will be especially appropriate for students studying natural and cultural resources and will provide opportunities to enhance basic career skills such as organization, writing, detail, and communication, well as field skills. This task agreement is to provide interns to collect terrestrial data per BLM aim protocols throughout new mexico.public benefit(s):1.provides youth opportunities learn technical skills and broaden their knowledge of natural resource management techniques and gain an understanding of environmental issues that prepares them to become more active, engaged citizens who can share their knowledge and experience with the public.2.provides youth with an introduction to careers with the bureau of land management and other land management agencies under various natural and cultural resource programs. 3.provides a broad knowledge of environmental issues through meaningful, hands-on conservation projects.4.engages young people in conservation services that expand the capacity of land management agencies to protect and preserve public lands, while stimulating interest in conservation careers.5.cultivates a conservation workforce, expanding the employment pool for the next generation of public lands managers.6.provides youth with employment that will enhance basic career skills such as organization, writing, leadership, communication, well as field skills. The opportunity to gain work experience.