Cooperative Agreement P24AC02448

This Cooperative Agreement award, funded by the National Park Service under the Youth and Veteran Organizations Conservation Activities program (CFDA 15.931), provides $448,000 to support a natural resource conservation project at Gettysburg National Military Park. The project utilizes a team of 5 interns, including a crew leader and 4 crew members, to survey and treat 3 woodlots for non-native plant species over an 18-week period. Key tasks include invasive plant surveys, prioritizing treatment methods in collaboration with NPS staff, and collecting spatial data on treated areas. The project aims to remove non-native herbaceous and woody plants, thin select native species to reflect historical conditions, and promote seedling recruitment, which will benefit natural and cultural resource management at the park. The award was made to the non-profit organization American Conservation Experience, which specializes in engaging youth and veterans in hands-on conservation work across public lands.