OpportunityTitle: BLM-CO Youth Corps Conservation Opportunities on Colorado&apos;s Public Lands
AdditionalInformationOnEligibility: This opportunity is open any qualified Youth Conservation Corps established by a State or local governement, by the governing body of any Indian tribe, or by a nonprofit organization interested in working cooperatively with the BLM to develop and administer projects focused on providing employment, educational, and public-service opportunities for U.S. citizens and legal residents between 16 and 30. No other entities are eligible to respond. All responding non-profit entities must provide a copy of their Section 501(c)(3) status determination letter received from the Internal Revenue Service.
Description: This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) offers opportunities for qualified youth conservation corps to engage youth and young adults ages 16-30 in work on BLM conservation-related projects in Colorado. This FOA is made in conjunction with Youth Project Announcements that carry specific deadlines for the submission of applications. These projects will provide participants with a mix of work experience, education, training, and support services, as well as the opportunity to develop citizenship values and skills through service to their community and the United States. As the young men and women gain experience in natural and cultural resource management, they will also develop an appreciation for public lands and learn about conservation-related career fields.Projects made available under this FOA are developed in collaboration with the BLM CO Youth Program State Lead and District/Field Offices with an emphasis on providing valuable training and mentorship opportunities to youth. The BLM CO is committed to connecting diverse youth to their public lands and natural and culture heritage through providing service projects, recreational experiences, and especially natural resource-based employment and educational opportunities, including scientific research. These projects provide the participants with real-world job skills training, education, mentorship and/or professional development, inspire interest in higher education /agency career paths and instill stewardship principles. The focused projects are organized: 1) in a crew-based format where the participants work collectively and intensely together to accomplish project-based activities; 2) in small teams of collaborative individuals; and 3) youth corps members engaged as interns on projects involving public lands. In all cases, participants should be directly supervised by trained and experienced crew leaders or staff from the partner organization. BLM conservation professionals will provide project guidance as well as coaching and mentoring participants. BLM staff will not serve as direct supervisors. Some examples of types of conservation related projects that may be made available through this FOA and Youth Project Announcements include:1. Trail building, maintenance, and restoration, and other improvements to visitor and recreation facilities, such as signs, kiosks, campgrounds;2. Habitat restoration, including removal of invasive species, tree planting, fence removal or installation, and river restoration;3. Assessment, inventory, and monitoring of vegetation condition data across the landscape;4. Developing and implementing natural and cultural resource stewardship plans or developing educational and informational materials for visitors;5. Natural and cultural/paleontological resource educational programs, communication outreach, visitor education, interpretation of natural and cultural resources;6. Conduct studies such as scientific, historic, archival, archaeological digs, oral histories, historic preservation, and habitat surveys;7. Protecting wildlife and preserving public lands and historic structures; and8. Enhancing recreation opportunities.This FOA is being released prior to the passage of a Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY 2017 by Congress. Enactment of additional Continuing Resolutions or an Appropriations Act may affect the availability and/or level of funding for this program.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: esarris@blm.gov
GrantorContactText: Grant Management Officer Eleni Sarris (303) 239-3908 &lt;br/&gt;esarris@blm.gov &lt;br/&gt;
CloseDateExplanation: Individual application package must be submitted for each project listed under this master Funding Opportunity Announcement. Each Project Announcement has specific deadlines that must be followed.