San Juan Islands Tribal Youth Project 2023.docx

Office: Spokane District, San Juan Islands National Monument Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: L24AS00057 Project Submission Dates and Times: January 19, 2024, 5pm EST

Project Title: San Juan Islands Tribal Youth Engagement Maximum Available Funding in FY24: $80,000 The PO recommendation is for an $800 weekly stipend equal to $20.00 per hour as reasonable. This figure is based on the current extremely high costs for rental accommodations and the toll of inflation on all living costs.

BLM encourages Indian tribes under 16 USC 1727b that qualify as a youth or conservation, to apply.

Project Background Information: Situated in the northern reaches of Washington State's Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands are a uniquely beautiful archipelago of over 450 islands, rocks, and pinnacles. The new San Juan Islands National Monument encompasses approximately 1,000 acres of land spread across many of these rocks and islands and managed by the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management. Drawing visitors from around the world, this is a landscape of unmatched contrasts, where forests seem to spring from gray rock and distant, snow-capped peaks provide the backdrop for sandy beaches. The San Juan Islands National Monument is a trove of scientific and historic treasures, a refuge for an array of wildlife, and a classroom for generations of Americans.

This project supports the mission of the BLM by training the next generation of land management professionals. Interns also provide direct support in during the high visitation season in the areas of site monitoring and maintenance, interpretation and outreach, and special project work.

Project Objective: The internships created through this assistance agreement will help us to build the skillset of the interns, which in turn will help us to create a better educated and more prepared workforce. This will create a better understanding of the BLM and its mission in the public sphere by spreading understanding through our interns.

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, generally 8 AM to 5PM, with flexible start/end dates in May-June/August-September. Weekends might be required but would be a rare occurrence. Field season is generally spring through fall but activities can be conducted year-round.

Qualification Requirements: Must have the ability to work independently in outdoor and remote environments. The position will require time outdoors and field work that is often under somewhat rigorous physical conditions. Organization should provide proper oversight and safety protocols.

Housing: Agency cannot provide housing.

Vehicle Needs: A personal vehicle is not required for the position. The closest regional airport is in Bellingham, Washington and the nearest large airport is in Seattle, Washington. Access to the San Juan Islands National Monument is by transit Ferry or airplane.

Other Project Considerations: The BLM can supply some field equipment for the completion of work in both the office and the field. Applicant should contact the Program Officer for details. Any borrowed equipment will be considered accountable property and will need to be returned in good condition unless otherwise agreed. In the event of fieldwork or travel, the interns will be expected to provide their own apparel (hat, sunglasses, and boots included) and luggage (including a field backpack). Approximately 90 percent of the work is in the field. The fieldwork will involve working in an island marine environment.

Duties: This program could involve a variety of education, recreation, and resources management activities such as but not limited to:

Events for Tribal Youth and Elder Engagement

· inter-tribal events for local tribes to gather and engage with the BLM public lands and land managers.

· Creating opportunities for tribal youth and families to recreate in the national monument.

· Conducting outreach Interpretation

· Where appropriate, develops interpretive programs, conducting independent and in-depth research of topics using sources such as records, books, files, and, where appropriate, interviews with people who

· have personal knowledge of a particular site or event.

· Selects and organizes material to fit the purposes of a program and the type of group for which it is intended such as preschoolers, special senior citizen groups, and U.S. or foreign dignitaries.

· Presents a variety of formal and interpretive programs to include but not limited to, orientation talks, environmental education programs, conducted walks, demonstrations, and campfire programs.

· Initiates or assists with the creation or revision of interpretive materials, such as guidebooks, handouts, and exhibits.

Survey and Mapping of Culturally Significant Plant Communities

· Survey culturally significant plants. Conduct surveys in Recreation Management Areas.

· Logistical support for monitoring and maintaining healthy plant communities within the National Monument lands for sustainable Tribal harvest.

Recreation support

· Prepares recreation areas/sites for visitor use, to include planning, operation, and required maintenance.

· Conducts site improvements to support public and Tribal use.

Seed Collection and Plant Propagation of Culturally Significant Plants

· Deliverable: build seed stock of plants such as Camas, Chocolate lily, Indian celery, Gary oak, Spring gold.

· Take part in restoration of culturally important native plants.

Other Duties and Tasks

· Beyond core work individual development goals will be prioritized, training and learning opportunities provided, Ability to assist specialists with field work when available such as cultural resource work, Biology, Botany, Forestry, Historic Preservation, Land Use Planning, and other interdisciplinary work with the BLM and its partners.

· The creation of opportunities through this assistance agreement w will also allow young people to gain valuable skills to build their careers toward higher-level family-supporting jobs.

BLM’s Involvement: There will be substantive BLM programmatic involvement. The interns will work with a variety of BLM staff including the manager, recreation and cultural leads and specialists in the field.by BLM professional that will work daily side by side with recipient on all projects and also be providing project orientation. BLM will have the right to intervene by modifying the project management plan, if project is not staying on schedule, technical issues arise, etc. In addition, BLM and recipient will meet regularly to discuss progress and track project outcomes; review any training needs; and then make a decision what direction to take in finalizing project or move to the next phase.

BLM Program Contact:

Brie Chartier San Juan Islands National Monument Manager Cell: 509 220 5976 San Juan Islands National Monument 650 Mullis Street Suite 100 Friday Harbor, WA 98250 she, her

Applicants are encouraged to refer to the full program announcement number L24AS00057 posted on Grants.gov for all program requirements and applicable terms and conditions. Recipients selected for awards will be required to adhere to those requirements should an award be made.

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