Project title ten visitor services interns for great smoky mountains resource education division project statement provide assistance to resource education programs to our visitors to great smoky…

The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) awarded a $299,495.75 Cooperative Agreement to American Conservation Experience (ACE), a non-profit organization, under the Youth and Veteran Organizations Conservation Activities program (CFDA 15.931). The funding will provide ten internships for visitor services at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The interns will deliver programs and services focused on the park's natural and cultural resources to increase opportunities for diverse audiences to learn about and enjoy the National Park. Key performance objectives include providing visitor orientation, recreation information, and educational programming that aligns with the NPS Division of Resource Education's goals. This award aims to engage young adults in natural and cultural resource conservation through hands-on learning, professional development, and fostering environmental stewardship. The project period runs from May 2024 to December 2026.

Project title ten visitor services interns for great smoky mountains resource education division project statement provide assistance to resource education programs to our visitors to great smoky mountains national park. Programs presented by the interns will be on the great smoky mountains national parks natural and cultural resources. Performance goals the overarching goal is to provide a gateway to lifelong engagement in NPS stewardship. To be relevant, interns will engage in projects that will increase opportunities for people to learn about and enjoy parks with a focus on diverse audiences that may not traditionally visit national parks. Key to this goal is the focus on educating the community through internships by providing opportunities for personal, academic and professional growth related to NPS resources. Performance objectives:provide visitor orientation and recreation information services at visitor centers and busy areas in the park that meet the division of resource educations programmatic goals.