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

The National Park Service (NPS), under the Youth and Veteran Organizations Conservation Activities program (CFDA 15.931), awarded a $150,000 cooperative agreement to Conservation Legacy (operating as Southwest Conservation Corps) on August 14, 2025, with a completion date of July 31, 2027. The award funds a Chesapeake Gateways Ambassador initiative that engages four youth or veterans in full-time, year-long internships focused on natural and cultural resource conservation and public engagement at National Park Service sites and regional Chesapeake Gateways locations in Maryland.

Under this agreement, the awardee delivers professional development and hands-on training to interns working alongside NPS staff to develop public-facing programs, interpretive media, and digital storytelling content including Storymaps and trip itineraries. The interns support visitor engagement at visitor centers, roving ranger programs, and community events while strengthening public appreciation of the region's natural and cultural heritage. The program benefits private and public non-profit institutions, academic institutions, state and local government agencies, youth and young adult career development organizations, and the general public through education and resource conservation project execution.

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 engage four youth or veterans as chesapeake gateways ambassadors in full-time, year-long internships. These interns will receive professional development and hands-on training while working alongside national park service staff to develop public-facing programs, interpretive media, and digital storytelling content such as storymaps and trip itineraries. Their work will support public engagement at visitor centers, roving ranger programs, and community events at national parks and other chesapeake gateways places, while helping to strengthen public appreciation of the regions natural and cultural heritage.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 benefitfrom the development and execution of these programs and projects.