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…

Environment For The Americas, Inc. (EFTA) received a $555,848 Cooperative Agreement from the National Park Service under the Youth and Veteran Organizations Conservation Activities program (CFDA 15.931), effective August 22, 2025, with completion by April 30, 2027. Under this award, EFTA will employ seven interns for 50 weeks to conduct essential natural resource management activities at Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California. Core deliverables include vegetation monitoring, volunteer coordination, non-native plant control, project reports, data collection for monitoring purposes, and public outreach initiatives that promote environmental stewardship and community engagement.

The program provides practical career development and hands-on conservation experience for interns while directly supporting park resource management objectives and visitor experience improvements. Primary beneficiaries include youth and young adult participants, academic institutions, state and local government agencies, and non-profit organizations focused on natural and cultural resource conservation. EFTA's execution of this project aligns with the broader Department of the Interior mission to leverage non-profit organizations for meaningful conservation work on federal lands while simultaneously developing workforce capacity in natural resource management fields.

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 will support seven interns for 50 weeks to engage in essential natural resource management activities in golden gate national recreation area, including vegetation monitoring, volunteer coordination, and non-native plant control. Interns will gain hands-on experience and contribute to maintaining park resources, improving visitor experiences, and fostering community engagement. Deliverables include project reports, data collection for monitoring, and public outreach initiatives, ultimately promoting stewardship and personal growth for participants while enhancing the integrity of park resources.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.