Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP19AC00345
Work-based Research Learning for Youth - MISS is a National Park Service (Department of the Interior) cooperative agreement opportunity designed to give young people paid, hands-on work experience by involving them directly in field research and related restoration work at the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MISS). The core idea is to place 1 to 2 youth in a structured work-research role where they learn practical conservation and research skills while contributing data the park needs to make better management decisions. The project is closely tied to building a Forest Management Plan and strengthening the park's ability to prioritize natural resource restoration and preservation work over time.
The project responds to a real and urgent management problem: the loss of nearly 100 ash trees in the park, which increases risks like erosion, reduced forest canopy, and invasive species pressures. To help address these impacts, the park is partnering with the Mississippi Park Connection (MPC) to hire youth who will work alongside experts to expand the park's vegetation data. A major deliverable is the establishment and survey of 500 new vegetation plots (also described as 500 points) within forested areas of the 72-mile corridor that makes up MISS. Using existing vegetation monitoring methods, these surveys will capture information across all forest layers, from ground-level plants through the canopy. Because of that, youth participants are expected to build competence in plant identification and learn how to recognize species at different heights and growth forms. They will be trained and supported by knowledgeable contractors and/or volunteers while they complete the fieldwork, and then they will enter collected information into the park's vegetation database.
The data collected is not just for recordkeeping; it is intended to enable the park to reanalyze vegetation conditions and pinpoint which sites most need protection, reforestation, and restoration. The selection of survey locations is also meant to be practical and partnership-driven, focusing both on filling gaps in existing vegetation data and on meeting partner needs to better understand ecological conditions on their lands. In addition to research and data management, youth may take part in on-the-ground restoration activities to replace ash with other appropriate species, helping the park adapt to Emerald Ash Borer impacts and broader climate stressors.
Beyond research plots, the work can extend into community-facing and collaborative conservation tasks. Youth may support the park's volunteer habitat restoration program, including helping coordinate volunteer work days and potentially helping lead volunteers in the field. The project mentions the possibility of planting up to 5,000 trees and shrubs across MISS forests with volunteers, MPC staff, and park staff. Youth may also work with the Conservation Corps of Minnesota crew to quantify and document the impacts of restoration work along the corridor, help communicate to the general public about Emerald Ash Borer and climate change effects on the Mississippi River, and assist partners in identifying planting locations for trees grown previously in gravel bed nurseries (2018 and 2019 stock). Alongside technical skills like data selection, data collection, and data entry, the program also emphasizes professional development, including training in job-seeking skills. Youth receive orientation and training through both MISS and MPC to support longer-term career growth in conservation, research, and related fields.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity offered under Funding Opportunity Number NPS NOIP19AC00345 and CFDA 15.954, with an award ceiling of $48,000 and an expectation of one award. The eligible applicants are nonprofits with IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). The opportunity was posted May 22, 2019, with an original closing date of June 7, 2019. Overall, the grant blends youth workforce development with practical conservation science, using structured training and real field outputs to strengthen forest management decisions and accelerate restoration efforts across the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.Apply for NPS NOIP19AC00345
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the community development, education, employment, labor and training, environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Work-based Research Learning for Youth- MISS" 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 May 22, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 07, 2019. (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 $48,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the "Work-based Research Learning for Youth - MISS" opportunity?
This is a National Park Service (Department of the Interior) cooperative agreement opportunity focused on giving young people paid, hands-on work experience by placing them in field research and related restoration work at the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MISS).
2) Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the National Park Service (NPS), within the U.S. Department of the Interior.
3) What does "MISS" stand for in this program?
MISS refers to the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
4) What is the main goal of the project?
The main goal is to place 1 to 2 youth in a structured work-research role so they can learn practical conservation and research skills while collecting vegetation data the park needs to improve management decisions, including development of a Forest Management Plan and long-term restoration prioritization.
5) How many youth participants are expected to be placed?
The project is designed to place 1 to 2 youth in paid, structured work-research positions.
6) Why is this work needed right now?
The park is facing an urgent forest management problem: the loss of nearly 100 ash trees. This loss can increase erosion risk, reduce forest canopy, and increase pressure from invasive species.
7) What is the role of the Mississippi Park Connection (MPC)?
MISS is partnering with the Mississippi Park Connection (MPC) to hire youth who will work alongside experts to expand the park's vegetation data and support related restoration and volunteer efforts.
8) What is the main field research deliverable?
A major deliverable is establishing and surveying 500 new vegetation plots (also described as 500 points) within forested areas of the MISS corridor.
9) Where will the fieldwork take place?
The work is intended for forested areas within the 72-mile corridor that makes up the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MISS).
10) What kinds of information will be collected in vegetation plot surveys?
Using existing vegetation monitoring methods, the surveys will capture information across all forest layers, from ground-level plants through the canopy.
11) What skills will youth participants be expected to learn during the surveys?
Youth are expected to build competence in plant identification and learn how to recognize species at different heights and growth forms, along with practical field research skills.
12) Will participants receive training and support?
Yes. Youth will be trained and supported by knowledgeable contractors and/or volunteers while completing fieldwork, and they will also receive orientation and training through both MISS and MPC.
13) What happens to the data after it is collected?
Youth will enter collected information into the park's vegetation database. The data is intended to help the park reanalyze vegetation conditions and identify which sites most need protection, reforestation, and restoration.
14) How will survey locations be chosen?
Survey locations are meant to be selected in a practical, partnership-driven way, focusing on filling gaps in existing vegetation data and meeting partner needs to better understand ecological conditions on their lands.
15) Is this project connected to restoration work, not just monitoring?
Yes. In addition to research and data management, youth may participate in on-the-ground restoration activities to replace ash with other appropriate species, helping the park adapt to Emerald Ash Borer impacts and broader climate stressors.
16) Does the project involve volunteer coordination?
It can. Youth may support the park's volunteer habitat restoration program, including helping coordinate volunteer work days and potentially helping lead volunteers in the field.
17) How much planting could occur under this project?
The project mentions the possibility of planting up to 5,000 trees and shrubs across MISS forests with volunteers, MPC staff, and park staff.
18) Are there other partner teams youth might work with?
Yes. Youth may work with the Conservation Corps of Minnesota crew to quantify and document restoration impacts along the corridor.
19) Does the project include public education or communications work?
It may. The project describes potential work communicating to the general public about Emerald Ash Borer and climate change effects on the Mississippi River.
20) What are gravel bed nurseries and how do they relate to this project?
The project notes that youth may assist partners in identifying planting locations for trees grown previously in gravel bed nurseries (2018 and 2019 stock).
21) What professional development is included for youth participants?
Beyond technical skills like data selection, data collection, and data entry, the program emphasizes professional development, including training in job-seeking skills, supported through both MISS and MPC orientations and training.
22) What type of funding opportunity is this?
This is a discretionary cooperative agreement funding opportunity.
23) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NPS NOIP19AC00345.
24) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 15.954.
25) What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $48,000.
26) How many awards are expected?
The opportunity states an expectation of one award.
27) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are nonprofits with IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.
28) When was the opportunity posted and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was posted on May 22, 2019, with an original closing date of June 7, 2019.
29) How does this project support long-term park management?
By expanding vegetation data through 500 new plots and entering it into the park database, the project is intended to strengthen the park's ability to reanalyze forest conditions, support development of a Forest Management Plan, and better prioritize natural resource restoration and preservation work over time.
30) What conservation issues does the project explicitly mention?
The project explicitly references Emerald Ash Borer impacts (including ash tree loss) and broader climate stressors, along with related risks such as erosion, reduced forest canopy, and invasive species pressures.
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