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 Conservation Legacy a $280,000 Cooperative Agreement under the Youth and Veteran Organizations Conservation Activities program (CFDA 15.931) on August 19, 2025, with completion scheduled for August 31, 2030. The agreement utilizes Conservation Legacy's Southwest Conservation Corps to deploy qualified interns in the National Capital Region parks to manage invasive plant species through a combination of office and field-based assignments. Intern responsibilities include data collection and processing, evaluating data collection methodologies, ranking invasive species by management priority, drafting technical reports, training volunteer crews, and leading management events. Interns will also conduct early detection and rapid response surveys for invasive species and validate observations using digital tracking platforms while receiving professional training in invasive plant identification and integrated pest management techniques.

This cooperative agreement supports NPS's broader conservation and workforce development objectives by pairing youth and veteran service participants with structured professional development and networking opportunities within the Natural Resources and Science Office. The program benefits private nonprofit institutions, academic entities, state and local government agencies, and youth and young adult career training organizations focused on natural and cultural resource conservation. Beyond the direct intern participants, the general public and individual families receive ancillary benefits through the conservation outcomes and ecosystem management improvements resulting from the invasive species management initiatives executed across the National Capital Region park system.

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. Interns will participate in various office and field assignments aimed at managing invasive plant species in national capital region parks. Their tasks may include data collection and processing, evaluating data collection tools, ranking invasive species, and drafting reports, as well as training volunteers and leading management events. They will also engage in surveys for early detection and rapid response species and assist with validating invasive species observations using tracking platforms. Additionally, interns will receive training in invasive plant identification and integrated pest management while having opportunities for professional development and networking within the natural resources and science office.