Notice of Intent: Improving Relationships with Native American Communities with the Next Generation Ranger Corps Employment Program | P17AS00649

Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00649

This grant opportunity, titled "Notice of Intent: Improving Relationships with Native American Communities with the Next Generation Ranger Corps Employment Program" (Funding Opportunity Number P17AS00649), is a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement designed to support a youth employment and community partnership initiative in Southern Arizona. Led by Saguaro National Park in collaboration with FOSNP, the project centers on creating the "Next Generation Ranger Corps," a program that recruits and hires local youth interns and places them within Saguaro National Park's Division of Interpretation, Education, and Outreach. The overall aim is to build stronger relationships with Native American communities, expand culturally grounded public education, and create practical career pathways for young people who may not otherwise see public lands or conservation work as accessible options.

A major focus of the program is economic opportunity and workforce development. Using NPS funds, FOSNP would take on the role of recruiting and employing youth interns, who then gain paid, structured work experience inside the park. The program explicitly connects employment to poverty alleviation by providing jobs, mentorship, and professional development for youth, particularly those from under-represented areas of Tucson. Beyond day-to-day work experience, the internship model is intended to open doors to longer-term career tracks in interpretation, education, and other public land professions, while also giving participants exposure to outdoor recreation and experiences at other national parks in Arizona.

On the work assignment side, the NextGen Rangers are placed in Saguaro National Park's Interpretation, Education, and Outreach division and are mentored by the park's Education Coordinator, Chip Littlefield. Intern duties are hands-on and community-facing, with a strong cultural education component tied to the Tohono Oodham Nation. Interns are expected to help recruit participants, teach, and develop park-based programs for youth on the Tohono Oodham Indian Nation. They also help create and deliver programs for the general public that highlight and communicate Tohono Oodham culture. Another concrete responsibility includes assisting with management and support activities related to the traditional Saguaro Harvest, linking park operations with longstanding cultural practices connected to the region.

The opportunity also references an "Ancestral Ranger Intern" role, which emphasizes curriculum and program development. In that capacity, the intern works closely with the Education Coordinator to implement, refresh, and update traditional curriculum-based programming and broader family-oriented programs. This is meant to provide deeper insight into how interpretation and education function as a profession within the National Park Service, while also improving the park's ability to offer relevant, well-designed learning experiences grounded in cultural understanding and community needs.

Training and accountability are built into the structure. Interns receive training for the activities described, plus additional cross-training and professional development opportunities. They are expected to meet regularly with their mentor and report on activities and accomplishments, which signals a focus on measurable learning outcomes and documented contributions rather than informal volunteering. From a grant administration perspective, this is a discretionary funding opportunity under the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, categorized under natural resources, with CFDA number 15.954. The notice indicated a single expected award with an award ceiling of $1, and it was originally posted on August 10, 2017, with an original closing date of August 20, 2017. The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced but not included in the provided text.

Overall, the program is best understood as a targeted partnership that uses paid internships to strengthen ties between Saguaro National Park and the Tohono Oodham community, broaden the public's understanding of Tohono Oodham culture, and build a pipeline for local youth into conservation and public service careers through structured mentorship, real program delivery responsibilities, and professional training.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent: Improving Relationships with Native American Communities with the Next Generation Ranger Corps Employment Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.954.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 10, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 20, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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