This program seeks to utilize qualified non-profit youth and veteran serving organizations to carry out appropriate natural and cultural resource conservation, education, volunteer service and…

The National Park Service (NPS) awarded a $200,600 cooperative agreement to American Conservation Experience (ACE) under the Youth and Veteran Organizations Conservation Activities program (CFDA 15.931), effective July 25, 2025, through June 30, 2030. ACE will deploy a youth trail crew to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in Kentucky to conduct trail maintenance and repair activities, including removing trail blockages, installing and repairing water bars, and repairing trail bridges. The project targets maintenance of approximately 20 miles of trail and 100 water bar drainage features annually, ensuring safe trail conditions and enhancing visitor safety and satisfaction.

This cooperative agreement leverages ACE's established capacity as a non-profit conservation corps organization specializing in youth and veteran workforce development on federal lands. Through this award, ACE will provide both meaningful conservation services that address critical resource management needs at the national historical park and valuable career development and hands-on training opportunities for participating young adults and veterans over the five-year performance period.

This program seeks to utilize 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 will provide a youth trail crew to assist with trail maintenance at cumberland GAP national historical park. The crew will assist the park with activities such as maintaining and repairs park trails by removing trail blockages, installing or repairing waterbars, and repairing trail bridges. Approximately 20 miles of trail and 100 water bars drainage features will be repaired and or replaced per year. The outcome of the project is to maintain safe trail conditions for public safety and visitor satisfaction.