OpportunityTitle: Rcovery Act Rehabilitate Historic Agricultural Fields
Description: OVERVIEWThe project will involve youth in the rehabilitation of historic agricultural fields within Minute Man National Historical Park. This work will improve overgrown agricultural fields within the Battle Road Unit of the park. Improvements to the park&#146;s cultural landscape will increase visitor enjoyment of park resources and visitor understanding of the opening battle of the American Revolution. The youth work will complement contractual work to clear and improve additional agricultural acreage. STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLANGroundwork USA and Groundwork Somerville and Minute Man National Historical Park share the following objectives for this ARRA funded project:&#149; Provide diverse youth educational and employment opportunities so they might gain a better understanding and appreciation of NPS&apos; natural and cultural resources.&#149; Engage diverse youth in active stewardship and improvement of the park&apos;s cultural landscape.&#149; Increase awareness of local food production and understanding of concepts of sustainability. &#149; Expand understanding of the park&apos;s history and significance among an underserved constituency.&#149; Increase the training, skill development and career exploration for diverse youth which would be relevant in seeking NPS employment in the future.&#149; Provide hands on experience with local food production and agricultural methods.RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT1. Plan, organize and implement the NPS - GW USA Youth Work Crew Training Program (the Program) at Minute Man National Historical Park and at sites in Somerville, MA, in collaboration with their affiliate Groundwork Somerville. The Program has three distinct elements: 1) Preservation Training Activities, 2) Career Training workshops, and 3) Community Service Projects.2. Compile an overview of the Program, in collaboration with NPS, describing how it will work, number and background of youth, budget, program timeline, training activities at both Minute Man NHP and at other locations, roles and responsibilities of NPS, GW USA and GW Somerville, and a list and description of additional curriculum and service learning activities the youth will participate in. See Attachment 1, Youth Work Crew Preservation Training Program 3. Provide a GW USA Youth Work Crew consisting of a Crew Supervisor, 4 Crew trainees, age 18 to 25 and a Farm/Youth Liaison. The Crew Leader will manage the work crew to insure they are prepared to participate in the NPS led training activities, by being on-time, wearing proper dress, acting respectfully, listening, paying attention and following directions of NPS. The Crew Supervisor will follow the direction of the NPS staff in all NPS led training activities and help convey those directions to the trainees and Farm/Youth Liaison as needed. The Crew Leader will be responsible for maintaining discipline and managing any personnel issues that arise with the trainees. ensure the GW USA Youth Work Crew and Crew Leader have physicals from their doctors and provide NPS with documentation showing that each crew member and the Crew Leader are physically able to complete the type of construction work associated with the Training Program. 4. Assign the GW USA Youth Work Crew and Crew Supervisor to participate in hands-on Preservation Training Activities at Minute Man NHP for 35 hours per week learning about and doing the following types of landscape preservation and maintenance activities as directed by park staff. 5. Assign the GW USA Youth Work Crew and Crew Supervisor to participate in Career Training Workshops, including job skills, life skills, and leadership training and Community Service Projects for an additional 5 hours per week, led by GW Somerville and its partners. The Green Team (high school employees) will also visit the park 2 times during the summer to do service projects. The Youth Work Crew will also leverage additional volunteer service though other partners to accomplish their community service projects. 6. Implement the funding strategy for the Partnership which includes a description of the amount Groundwork USA and Groundwork Somerville will commit to meet the 25% match in non-Federal cash or in-kind services, as required by the Public Land Corps. Volunteer consultants will provide professional development and job skill workshops and other organizations will work with the Youth Work Crew on Community Service Projects and provide additional volunteers for those projects as part of meeting the required 25% match. See Attachment 1 for the project budget, which specifies how the balance of the remaining match will be met through staff time, supplies, and community service hours. 7. Finalize the job description proposed for the GW Youth Work Crew Supervisor and Farm/Youth Liaison. Recruit and hire the GW Youth Work Crew Supervisor and Farm/Youth Liaison in consultation with NPS. Finalize the proposed job description for the GW Youth Work Crew trainees and, recruit and hire the trainees (18 &#150; 25 years old) from diverse backgrounds in the Somerville area. 8. Provide transportation for the GW USA Youth Work Crew, Farm/Youth Liaison and Crew Leader to and from the project site(s) at Minute Man NHP throughout the program and to any other activities affiliated with the Preservation Training Activities, Career Training Workshops and Community Service Projects. 9. Document all funding, in-kind donations, pro bono work, volunteer hours, materials and equipment leveraged by GW USA and Groundwork Somerville for the Youth Work Crew Preservation Training Program.NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT1. Provide funding for planning, organizing and implementing the NPS &#150; GW USA Youth Work Crew Preservation Training Program 2. Provide hands-on Preservation training for five (5) Groundwork USA Youth Work Crew members and one (1) Groundwork USA Youth Work Crew Supervisor on preservation and maintenance projects at Minute Man National Park, with instruction, project oversight and supervision of Park based training activities provided by park staff. Preservation training on historic agricultural landscape and field rehabilitation will include some or all of the following: clearing invasive vegetation from overgrown fields and stone walls, rebuilding stone walls, thinning overgrown hedgerows, installing livestock fencing, clearing agricultural drainage ditches, assisting with farm activities and other tasks associated with preserving the park&#146;s historic agrarian landscape.3. Provide orientation and support to the Farm/Youth Liaison who will coordinate activities of multiple youth groups, volunteers and park seasonal staff within the project area.4. Provide ongoing technical assistance and direction to GW USA and Groundwork Somerville to implement the NPS &#150; Groundwork USA Youth Work Crew Preservation Training Program in partnership with Minute Man National Historical Park. 5. Link GW USA and Groundwork Somerville with National Park Service sites and programs that could assist with expanding this training partnership.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: NPS Email
GrantorContactText: Jennifer Gartzke &lt;br/&gt;Contract Specialist &lt;br/&gt;Phone 303-969-2755