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…

Federal Cooperative Agreement Summary

Conservation Legacy (doing business as Southwest Conservation Corps) received a $3.33 million Cooperative Agreement from the Department of the Interior National Park Service under the Youth and Veteran Organizations Conservation Activities program (CFDA 15.931), awarded August 6, 2025, with completion targeted for December 31, 2027. The award funds the deployment of approximately 40 interns across approximately 40 national parks to support volunteer management and conservation initiatives. Interns will provide direct support for annual volunteer events, enhance participation in national initiatives including Veterans Programs and Trails Rails Programs, and develop volunteer engagement toolkits and handbooks designed to promote sustainable outreach and community partnerships.

The project emphasizes capacity building within the volunteer service ecosystem across the National Park Service portfolio. Beyond event support, interns will engage directly with communities to establish meaningful volunteer opportunities and strengthen partnerships with local organizations. Beneficiaries include nonprofit institutions, academic organizations, state and local government agencies, and the general public, with particular focus on youth and veteran career development in natural and cultural resource conservation and management. The cooperative agreement structure enables Conservation Legacy to leverage its established expertise in youth and veteran conservation service delivery while building sustainable volunteer management infrastructure across the national park system.

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 project aims to provide approximately 40 interns with a focus on volunteerism and volunteer management in approximately 40 national parks through the volunteer-in-parks (VIP) program. Interns will support annual volunteer events, enhance participation in national initiatives such as veteran s programs and trails rails programs, and assist in developing volunteer engagement toolkits and handbooks to promote sustainable outreach. Additionally, they will engage with communities to create meaningful volunteer opportunities and strengthen partnerships with local organizations. 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.