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…

Cooperative Agreement Summary

Conservation Legacy, operating as Southwest Conservation Corps, received a $166,666.67 Cooperative Agreement award from the National Park Service (NPS) under the Youth and Veteran Organizations Conservation Activities program (CFDA 15.931), effective August 21, 2025, through May 31, 2026. The organization will deploy six interns to Grand Teton National Park to deliver integrated conservation and resource management services, including educational outreach to park visitors, vegetation management focused on reducing wildfire risks, and trail construction and maintenance activities designed to enhance visitor accessibility and safety. This project directly supports NPS resource management objectives while providing paid work experience and professional development opportunities for youth participants in natural resource conservation.

The award reflects the program's dual mission of addressing critical resource management needs on federal lands while creating workforce development pathways for young adults. Beneficiaries include the participating youth interns, park visitors who benefit from improved safety and accessibility, and the natural environment through enhanced resource quality and reduced wildfire vulnerability. The project aligns with Conservation Legacy's established track record as a qualified non-profit youth and veteran-serving organization with demonstrated capacity to execute conservation projects across Department of the Interior lands in partnership with the National Park Service.

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 six interns to improve visitor safety and resource quality in grand teton national park. Interns will participate in educational outreach, manage vegetation to reduce wildfire risks, and carry out maintenance and trail construction to enhance accessibility. The project aims to foster hands-on experience in resource management while benefiting park visitors and the environment. 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.