Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP17AC00177
This notice describes a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement focused on delivering canoe-centered outdoor education experiences for urban youth in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and Saint Paul), specifically along the Mississippi River corridor. Even though it appears in the format of a grant opportunity listing, it is explicitly labeled "THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS," meaning it is not an open competition for new applicants. Instead, it documents a specific cooperative agreement (P17AC00177) between the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and a named partner organization, Wilderness Inquiry, outlining the shared purpose, roles, and responsibilities for carrying out the program.
The main objective is to engage inner-city youth through jointly developed educational and interpretive programming with Minneapolis and Saint Paul public school systems, along with youth service organizations and other local partners. The programming is built around canoe-based day trips and/or overnight camp experiences, paired with structured educational activities. The learning focus is broad and place-based: participants are meant to deepen their understanding of the natural environment, regional history, cultural resources, and the built environment connected to the Mississippi River corridor. In practice, the agreement is designed to combine recreation (canoeing and camping) with interpretation and education that ties to stewardship and an appreciation of nationally significant river resources.
Because this is a cooperative agreement rather than a typical grant, NPS is not simply providing funds and stepping back; the agency has an active role in planning, training, and program delivery. The recipient, Wilderness Inquiry, is responsible for the on-the-ground execution elements that make the program possible. That includes providing canoe-based and land-based programming for urban youth; coordinating closely with NPS staff, school districts, and youth organizations; and involving key park staff in program design, school coordination, partner relationships, and the training of Wilderness Inquiry outdoor educators. Wilderness Inquiry also commits to supplying the necessary gear and materials, including large voyageur canoes, personal flotation devices, safety equipment, tents, and other camping/program supplies, as well as delivering participant training on equipment use and safety. Staffing is also a recipient responsibility, including ensuring staff are properly trained to implement and run the activities.
On the NPS side, the Park Service commits to contributing personnel and expertise to support delivery of the programs. NPS will provide park rangers and/or other staff as available to work alongside Wilderness Inquiry staff. NPS also takes a lead role in the educational and interpretive quality of the experience by conducting or guiding educational programming that connects youth to the Mississippi River corridor's natural, historical, cultural, and recreational resources, with an emphasis on stewardship. A key part of that role is training Wilderness Inquiry staff and volunteers on how to interpret nationally significant resources and how to align programming with academic standards. NPS further agrees to assist with joint training in program delivery and interpretation, and to provide training and certification requirements related to safe canoe operation, consistent with established canoe and camp program protocols.
A central feature of the agreement is the shared commitment to joint planning and continuous coordination. NPS and Wilderness Inquiry jointly agree to develop program goals, educational objectives, curricula, and logistics; to implement and deliver high-quality educational and recreational programs that meet the agreement's objective; and to manage collaboration through regular coordination, specifically weekly meetings between key staff. These meetings are intended to cover program development, partner and school collaboration, staffing, training, evaluation, and other operational needs. Safety is treated as a top-tier shared responsibility, with both parties agreeing to prioritize risk management decisions, actively monitor river conditions, and cancel, relocate, or adjust programming when conditions are unsafe. They also commit to ensuring, through training and testing, that all staff operating canoes with youth are properly qualified.
From the listing details, the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary cooperative agreement in the education/environment/natural resources space (CFDA 15.954). The listed eligible applicant type is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (excluding institutions of higher education), but in this case the notice is effectively documenting a single, expected award tied to Wilderness Inquiry rather than inviting broader applications. The listed award ceiling is $90,000, with one expected award. The posting shows a creation date of March 17, 2017, and an original closing date of March 27, 2017, which further supports that this is an administrative public notice associated with an already-defined partnership rather than an open call for proposals.
Overall, this agreement lays out a structured partnership model: Wilderness Inquiry provides program operations, equipment, and trained staff; NPS provides interpretive leadership, ranger participation, alignment to educational standards, and canoe safety training/certification; and both organizations jointly plan, coordinate, evaluate, and enforce strict safety decision-making to deliver meaningful Mississippi River-based outdoor learning experiences for urban youth in the Twin Cities.Apply for NPS NOIP17AC00177
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the education, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS-Canoemobile Program for Urban Youth- MISS- THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS" 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 Mar 17, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 27, 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 $90,000.00 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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