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.Apply for P17AS00649
- 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Notice of Intent: Improving Relationships with Native American Communities with the Next Generation Ranger Corps Employment Program."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) is P17AS00649.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary funding opportunity under the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What type of funding instrument is described?
The opportunity is described as a cooperative agreement.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project is designed to improve relationships with Native American communities, expand culturally grounded public education, and create practical career pathways for local youth through a paid internship model in Saguaro National Park.
What is the program being created through this project?
The project centers on creating the "Next Generation Ranger Corps," a youth internship program that recruits and hires local youth interns and places them in Saguaro National Park's Division of Interpretation, Education, and Outreach.
Where does the project take place?
The initiative is based in Southern Arizona and is led by Saguaro National Park.
Who is leading the project?
The effort is led by Saguaro National Park in collaboration with FOSNP.
Who recruits and employs the youth interns under this model?
Using NPS funds, FOSNP would take on the role of recruiting and employing youth interns, who then gain paid, structured work experience inside Saguaro National Park.
What park division hosts the interns?
Interns are placed within Saguaro National Park's Division of Interpretation, Education, and Outreach.
Who mentors the interns?
The interns are mentored by the park's Education Coordinator, Chip Littlefield.
What kinds of work would NextGen Ranger interns do?
Intern duties are hands-on and community-facing. They include helping recruit participants, teaching and developing park-based youth programs on the Tohono Oodham Indian Nation, and creating and delivering public programs that communicate and highlight Tohono Oodham culture.
How does the project connect to the Tohono Oodham Nation?
The program includes a strong cultural education component tied to the Tohono Oodham Nation. Interns help develop and deliver youth programs on the Tohono Oodham Indian Nation and also support public programming focused on Tohono Oodham culture.
What is the traditional Saguaro Harvest role mentioned in the opportunity?
Interns are expected to assist with management and support activities related to the traditional Saguaro Harvest, connecting park operations with longstanding cultural practices in the region.
What is the "Ancestral Ranger Intern" role?
The opportunity references an "Ancestral Ranger Intern" position focused on curriculum and program development, working closely with the Education Coordinator to implement, refresh, and update curriculum-based programming and broader family-oriented programs.
How does this program support workforce development?
The program is framed as an economic opportunity and workforce development effort by providing paid jobs, mentorship, and professional development for youth, particularly those from under-represented areas of Tucson, with the goal of opening pathways into interpretation, education, and other public land professions.
Does the opportunity mention poverty alleviation?
Yes. The internship model explicitly links employment to poverty alleviation by providing paid jobs, mentorship, and professional development for participating youth.
What training and professional development are included?
Interns receive training for their assigned activities, plus additional cross-training and professional development opportunities as part of the program structure.
How are interns held accountable for their work?
Interns are expected to meet regularly with their mentor and report on activities and accomplishments, emphasizing measurable learning outcomes and documented contributions.
Does the program include experiences beyond Saguaro National Park?
Yes. The description notes that interns may gain exposure to outdoor recreation and experiences at other national parks in Arizona.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.954.
What is the funding category or subject area?
The opportunity is categorized under natural resources.
How many awards were expected?
The notice indicated a single expected award.
What was the award ceiling listed in the notice?
The award ceiling was listed as $1.
When was the opportunity originally posted?
The notice was originally posted on August 10, 2017.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was August 20, 2017.
Who was eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others." The notice indicates there are additional eligibility details, but those details are referenced without being included in the provided information.
What is the overall intended impact of the Next Generation Ranger Corps?
Overall, the program is intended to strengthen ties between Saguaro National Park and the Tohono Oodham community, broaden public understanding of Tohono Oodham culture, and build a pipeline for local youth into conservation and public service careers through paid internships, structured mentorship, real program delivery responsibilities, and training.
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