Cooperative Agreement P23AC02107

THIS PROGRAM UTILIZES 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 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PROGRAMS. THIS PROGRAM IS GEARED TOWARDS IDENTIFYING COMMUNITY SERVANT LEADERS WHO WILL FACILITATE CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES AND TAKE THE LEAD IN PARENT WORKSHOPS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH ENDEAVORS.A FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM INVOLVES A HISTORICAL BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCU) COLLEGE TOUR THAT INCLUDES VISITS TO INSTITUTIONS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. THIS OFFERS THE PARTICIPANTS AN IMMERSIVE AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AS THEY EXPLORE THE CULTURAL HERITAGE EMBEDDED WITHIN THESE INSTITUTIONS AND THE NATIONAL PARKS IN THE MIDWEST REGION.THE PROGRAM GOES BEYOND EDUCATION AND EXPLORATION BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT. THE IDENTIFIED SERVANT LEADERS ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN HOSTING AN INFORMATION TABLE AT THE LIGHTS ON AFTER SCHOOL EVENT. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NPS, THIS EVENT AIMS TO INTRODUCE CHILDREN TO THE SERVICE OFFERED BY NPS AND INFORM PARENTS, GUARDIANS, AND YOUNG ADULTS ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION.SERVANT LEADER INTERNS WILL ALSO DISTRIBUTE BOOKS TO YOUTH AND CONDUCT PRESENTATIONS ABOUT NPS SERVICE. THESE PRESENTATIONS ARE LINKED WITH SERVICE LEARNING ACTIVITIES TO OFFER A WELL-ROUNDED, HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE ABOUT THE CONSERVATION AND IMPORTANCE OF OUR NATIONAL PARKS, PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND OPENING AVENUES FOR POTENTIAL CAREERS IN THE NPS. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE 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.