OpportunityTitle: THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS- Interpretive Outreach-GWCA- THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS- This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service&apos;s intention to award financial assistance for the following project activities  without competition.  Members of the Carver Birthplace Association.  -THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS
Description: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES This Cooperative Agreement is entered into by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), and Carver Birthplace Association (CBA). The objective of this Agreement is for the park and CBA to work collectively in carrying out special events and interpretive projects to commemorate the life of George Washington Carver. In the early 1940s, the George Washington Carver Birthplace Memorial Associates, a non-profit lobbying group comprised of civic leaders from St. Louis and elsewhere, formed to promote the establishment of George Washington Carver National Monument (GWCA). In 1953, the District Carver Association was established, comprised of state legislators, mayors and representatives from ten local communities. The District Carver Association&#8217;s primary focus was the coordination of an annual Carver Day celebration held at the park. In 1962, the Birthplace Memorial Associates and District Carver Association merged to form the George Washington Carver Birthplace District Association (CBA). CBA incorporated in 1963 and received designation as a non-profit association by the Internal Revenue Service in 1964. Since that time CBA has operated a museum store at the park, using proceeds from sales to support park programs and support the mission of the NPS. A General Friends Group Agreement was approved between GWCA and CBA in 2011. CBA exists to encourage the scientific, educational, historical and interpretive programs of the NPS at George Washington Carver National Monument. The non-profit group provides ongoing support for park events and activities, prints interpretive and educational publications, provides marketing and advertising, serves as consultants and advisors for park-related studies, provides interpretive markers, serves as the park&#8217;s concessionaire, and many other areas of support in promoting the life and legacy of George Washington Carver. STATEMENT OF WORK The park and CBA will work in partnership toward a myriad of interpretive activities in an effort to commemorate the life and legacy of George Washington Carver. Special events and interpretive programming serve as interpretive opportunities for visitors to form connections with George Washington Carver through activities and exhibits that are not available on a regular basis. Interpretive activities and demonstrations must be carefully planned and evaluated to ensure they fit park interpretive themes. Carver Day: Carver Day is an annual public celebration that began prior to the opening of the park. This event is an opportunity to celebrate and interpret the achievements and contributions of George Washington Carver and the founding of the park. An annual Carver Day special event has been held at the park since 1953. The principal group and co-sponsor of these yearly events was the District Carver Association. CBA has carried on with this tradition throughout the decades, and continues to partner with the park for this special event each year. The format of this celebration has changed over the years, as determined through consensus of CBA and the park. The current Carver Day celebration is based on Carver&#8217;s spirituality and his life work and achievements. Exhibits, demonstrations, and interpretive programs that support these themes are held throughout the day. The annual Carver Day Celebration targets an African American audience. A bulk mailing is sent to African American churches from throughout the region, and African American church choirs and musical groups are invited to perform. Depending on weather, Carver Day attendance ranges from 700 to 1,200 visitors. An estimated 250-300 hours of park staff time are required to prepare and present this event. Prairie Day: Prairie Day is annual public event that began in the 1980s. This event helps to interpret the social, natural, and cultural environment of Carver&#8217;s early years in southwest Missouri and the impact it had on his life. Prairie Day is based on Carver&#8217;s life platform. Exhibits, demonstrations, living history, interpretive programs, and musical performances that support this theme are held throughout the day. CBA provides concessions services, marketing, insurance for horse-drawn wagon rides, and similar support for Prairie Day. This event is scheduled in conjunction with the annual &#8220;Diamond Gem City Days&#8221; celebration in the local community of Diamond, Missouri. This provides an opportunity to attract more participation in each event and allows joint marketing of the events. CBA has provided sponsorship, participated in parades and cook-offs, and supplied other support for Gem City Days. Depending on weather, Prairie Day attendance ranges from 800 to 1,200 visitors. An estimated 250-300 hours of park staff time are required to prepare and present this event. Art in the Park: Art in the Park is an annual public event that was initiated in 2007 with the support of the Share the African American Experience grant project of the National Park Foundation. This event supports Carver&#8217;s passion for art. The objectives of the event include helping visitors learn about George Washington Carver&#8217;s artistic endeavors, building the Volunteers-In-Parks program by adding an &#8220;artisans&#8217; cadre&#8221;, and engaging visitors in an art form that is new to them. Artisans exhibit artwork and present demonstrations throughout the day. Selected artists provide workshops for visitors, instructing with various media including pastels, natural dyes, pencil, and other art forms. In addition, the event supports a volunteer cadre of artisans to provide art demonstrations for weekend programs and special events throughout the year, encourages local citizens to visit the park more than once a year, and encourages artists of the region to view the park as a venue to create their work. An estimated 150 hours of park staff time are required to prepare and present this event. The park and CBA work together to provide program activities; and CBA provides concessions services for park visitors. Art &amp; Essay Contest: The Art &amp; Essay Contest is an annual event that was initiated in 1991 as a collaborative effort between the park, CBA, and Missouri Southern State University School of Education. The contest is open to 4th grade students who may enter work in two categories: artwork and written essays. Student entries are judged, with awards given. Tasks involve providing classroom presentations, creating rubrics to evaluate the entries, recruitment of volunteer judges, exhibiting the entries for public display, coordinating an awards event, providing certificates and awards, preparing invitations and programs, and more. Awards ceremonies are currently held at the park (prior to the expansion of the park&#8217;s visitor center in 2007, the awards ceremony was held at MSSU in Joplin, MO). There are more than 500 student entries for the contest each year. Holiday Open House: The Holiday Open House is held for the public at the visitor center around Christmastime each year. Musical entertainment, traditional holiday crafts, and hands-on interpretive activities are provided for park visitors. The theme promotes 19th century Christmas traditions familiar to the Ozark region. The park and CBA work together to provide program activities. Naturalization Ceremony: A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by the NPS and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, Department of Homeland Security) authorizing naturalization ceremonies to be conducted in national parks. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri scheduled a Naturalization Ceremony to be held at the park in FY13. The park and CBA will work collaboratively to host such naturalization ceremonies, providing accommodations and services as needed. George Washington Carver Day &#8211; January 5: The 5th day of January has received recognition as George Washington Carver Day in various capacities for many years. George Washington Carver died on January 5, 1943. On December 28, 1945, Congress enacted Public Law 290 designating the 5th day of January, 1946, as George Washington Carver Day. The park and CBA work collectively to promote George Washington Carver Day public events and activities. Emancipation Days and Juneteenth Celebration: Emancipation Day and Juneteenth Celebration activities are conducted each year. The park and CBA provides support for these activities through planning, interpretive services, and similar assistance. The Joplin Emancipation Park Day committee, NAACP Chapter 4065, and other partners coordinate activities in Joplin. Other groups coordinate similar events in surrounding communities. CBA has provided sponsorship for Joplin Emancipation Days events held in August of each year; and the current CBA Director serves on the planning committee. Emancipation Days and Juneteenth activities involve outreach activities targeted for African American families within the local commuting area. According to a visitor study conducted at the park in 2010, visitation breakdown is as follows: 93% white, 3% American Indian or Alaska Native, 3% African American, 1% Asian, and less than 1% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; with 4% Hispanic or Latino. Sixty-six percent of visitors were from a day-trip commute within the four-state region (MO, KS, OK, AR). Healthy Parks, Healthy People/National Trails Day: The NPS Healthy Parks Initiative works to reintegrate human, environmental and ecological health into programming available at the park. This program promotes health and wellness during events and activities hosted at the park. Partner groups, including CBA, join with the park to meet the objectives of the Healthy Parks Initiative through interpretive activities. Special Exhibits: Temporary exhibits and traveling exhibits with topics that enhance the NPS mission are occasionally displayed at GWCA. The park&#8217;s museum exhibits and artifacts provide powerful interpretive tools for public visitors. CBA and the park work together providing for these exhibit needs which serves the public-at-large. GWCA and CBA work collaboratively toward similar interpretive events/activities/programs to promote the legacy of George Washington Carver and meet the objectives of this agreement. RECIPIENT AGREES TO: 1. Participate and collaborate with the park in carrying out the scope of work. CBA will work cooperatively to provide exhibitors, performers, speakers, and other services and supplies for special events and interpretive activities; and related activities for special events and interpretive outreach programming. 2. Work cooperatively with the park to develop an annual Friends Group Partnership Work Plan for the Superintendent&#8217;s review and approval. 3. Participate in joint pre-activity planning meetings and closeout briefings. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AGREES TO: 1. Substantial collaboration in carrying out each special event / interpretive programming activity. The park will collaborate with Recipient to plan and carry out special events and interpretive programming activities to commemorate the life and legacy of George Washington Carver. 2. Designate a park liaison to work with the Recipient to plan, coordinate, organize, and carry out special events and interpretive programs/activities. The park will define interpretive objectives and preferred media, identify park priorities, and provide environmental and cultural resource compliance for projects on park lands. 3. Provide oversight for special events and interpretive activities, recommend sources for targeted audiences, and provide materials, transportation, and equipment as available and necessary. 4. Review and approve one stage of work before the next stage can begin 5. Immediately halt an activity if detailed performance specifications are not met. 6. Participate in joint pre-project meetings, planning meetings, and closeout briefings.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: noel_miller@nps.gov
GrantorContactText: Noel Miller &lt;br/&gt;Grants Management Specialist &lt;br/&gt;Phone 402-661-1658