American conservation experience ACE is a national leader in recruiting, coordinating, and training conservation volunteers to undertake practical environmental practical environmental projects with…

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) awarded a $244,333 Cooperative Agreement to American Conservation Experience (ACE) under the Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands program (CFDA 15.243). This 5-year award, effective January 8, 2025, will enable ACE to recruit and field 271 youth and young adult interns each summer to assist the BLM nationwide with various natural and cultural resource management activities.

Anticipated projects include trail building and maintenance, vegetation and hydrological monitoring, invasive species control, tree planting, cultural resource preservation, and environmental education and interpretation. This grant builds on ACE's long-standing partnership with the BLM, leveraging the organization's expertise in engaging diverse youth in hands-on conservation work across public lands to support the agency's priorities around climate resiliency, habitat restoration, and developing the next generation of conservation professionals.

American conservation experience ACE is a national leader in recruiting, coordinating, and training conservation volunteers to undertake practical environmental practical environmental projects with US land management agencies, including the bureau of land management, the national park service, the US forest service, the fish wildlife service, and other public, nonprofit, or private land stewards. ACE programs provide opportunities for youth, young adults, and emerging professionals of all backgrounds to gain tangible, professional experiences through meaningful, handson conservation projects. ACE has been a proud partner of the BLM since our founding almost twenty years ago. ACE is well qualified to recruit and engage high quality candidates to support the BLM. In 2023, ACE fielded 139 members participating in BLM supported projects, contributing 46,979 hours of conservation service. ACE has a successful history of partnering with the BLM to recruit and field high quality members completing various projects nationwide with multiple field offices. If funded in full, in coordination with BLM, ACE will recruit and field 271 DHA RA interns for 11 weeks each summer for five years to assist BLM across multiple resource disciplines nationwide. Although, specific projects and disciplines will be determined by the needs of the BLM, ACE anticipates assisting the BLM nationally with activities related to trail building, maintenance and restoration, and other improvements to visitor and recreation facilities, monitoring vegetation and hydrological functions, collecting soil and stream data, timber stand improvement projects, invasive species management, tree planting, fence removal installation, riparian area restoration, developing and implementing of natural and cultural resource stewardship plans or educational and informational materials for visitors, preserving cultural resources, seed collection, reducing wildfire risk, communication, education, and interpretation of natural and cultural resources. By fielding direct hiring authority for resource assistant interns the proposed project will support the DOI priority of working to conserve at least 30% each of our lands and waters by the year 2030. Additionally, the proposed project will support BLM priorities of restoration, conservation, recreation for all, and rebuild the agency. ACE s efforts fully align with the BLM commitment to providing young people with employment and opportunities to learn about and gain work experience in public lands and natural resources management while promoting longterm interest in public lands stewardship and the BLM. Introducing young adults to conservation while providing them with the opportunity for handson service learning is critical in decreasing staffing shortages among public land management agencies.