Youth and Veteran Organizations Conservation Activities

This program seeks to utilize qualified non-profit youth and veteran serving organizations to carry out appropriate natural and cultural resource conservation, education, and volunteer service projects on Department of the Interior lands through auth

The Youth and Veteran Organizations Conservation Activities program helps young adults and veterans gain hands‑on experience protecting and caring for America's public lands. Through partnerships with nonprofit and community organizations, the program supports projects that strengthen conservation skills, expand volunteerism, and build pathways to careers in natural and cultural resource stewardship. This program serves youth ages 18-30, veterans up to age 35, and the community organizations that work with them.

Qualified youth or conservation corps - The term "qualified youth or conservation corps" means any program established by a State or local government, by the governing body of any Indian tribe, or by a nonprofit organization that- (A) is capable of offering meaningful, full-time, productive work for individuals between the ages of 16 and 30, inclusive, or veterans age 35 or younger in a natural or cultural resource setting; (B) gives participants a mix of work experience, basic and life skills, education, training, and support services; and (C) provides participants with the opportunity to develop citizenship values and skills through service to their community and the United States.

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.

Funding can be used by organizations to support natural and/or cultural resource conservation projects; youth and young adult vocational/career training; natural/cultural resource conservation focused educational programming; natural resources conservation focused recreation activities.

Assistance is provided on a project basis. Assistance length and time depends on project complexity.

Consultation and assistance is available from the program office and financial assistance officer in advance of the application submission. No pre-application coordination is required.

Specific evaluation criteria will be included in the funding announcements posted on www.grants.gov

Proposals received in response announcements on grants.gov are reviewed on the basis of a competitive, merit-based review process, and are rated in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in the announcement. Awards may be made to the highest rated proposals based on the amount of funding available each year.

Varies depending on the type and complexity of the project. Further information will be available for each specific project at the time the funding opportunity announcement is posted on www.grants.gov and may be obtained by contacting the Program Manager listed as the point of contact. Generally 30-120 days.

If renewals or extensions are applicable to the project, this information will be included in the funding opportunity announcement. When renewals or extensions are applicable, continuation of funding for these activities is at the discretion of Congress and will be subject to availability of appropriated funds.

None. Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however, the National Park Service will provide applicants with information on why their proposals were not selected for award, upon request.