National Park Service Grant: Next Generation Ranger Corps Program

Saguaro National Park and FOSNP will join together in partnership to create a new program for youth employment and economic opportunity in Southern Arizona, entitled the Next Generation Ranger Corps. Using funds from the National Park Service, FOSNP will recruit and hire local (10) youth interns to be placed with Saguaro National Park as Next Generation Ranger Corps members, herefor referred to as a NextGen Rangers.

Through this agreement, the National Park Service is committed to working within our local community and providing opportunities to alleviate poverty through providing employment opportunities for youth interested in public lands and conservation, as well as providing youth from under-represented areas of Tucson opportunities to gain professional development in career tracks they may not have traditionally considered available to them. Interns will also gain exposure to outdoor recreation opportunities and experiences in other national parks in Arizona.

This project addresses the public purposes of 1) providing opportunities to alleviate poverty through providing employment opportunities for youth interested in public land and conservation; 2) providing youth from under-represented areas of Tucson opportunities to gain professional development in career tracks they may not have traditionally considered available to them; 3) providing opportunities for youth to learn about the environment by spending time working on and completing conservation projects in national parks; 4) motivating youth to become involved in natural resource protection of their communities and beyond, and engage in hands-on experience; 5) gaining and disseminating new scientific knowledge; and 6) assisting in the promotion and improvement of the public’s understanding of natural resources and conservation.

The Next Gen Rangers will be assigned to the Division of Resource Management at Saguaro National Park. The incumbents will be mentored by Don Swann, Biologist, and given opportunities to participate and lead efforts bringing under-served youth into the park for experiential learning opportunities, such as buffelgrass pulls, service learning projects, and citizen science. The assigned NextGen Rangers will have opportunities to work alongside park Resource Management staff to better understand the profession of Natural Resource Management in the National Park Service. The assigned Next Gens will receive training in all of these activities and will have additional cross-training and professional training opportunities. The intern will meet regularly with the assigned mentor and report on activities and accomplishments.

STATEMENT OF WORK
RECIPIENT AGREES TO:
1. FOSNP will accept Saguaro National Park funds and use these funds to recruit and place local, diverse youth and young adults (age 16-30) from Tucson and surrounding communities into paid internship opportunities with the Division of Resource Management at Saguaro National Park
2. Interns will work in natural resource management in a variety of projects such as saguaro and forest health surveys, rare plant surveys, native plant flowering and pollination, management of invasive plants, and natural resource education.
3. FOSNP will ensure that youth participants have opportunities for training in resource conservation and vocational skills, and are exposed to the wide variety of occupations within the NPS beyond plant management including but not limited to Interpretation, Outreach, Visitor Protection, Wildlife, Wilderness, Water Conservation, Trails and Facility Management, Education, and Business Administration.
4. FOSNP will provide the assigned NextGen Ranger either a stipend, based on timesheets submitted by the NextGen and approved by FOSNP. This stipend would be either $16.13 per hour, $13.86 per hour, or $11.17 per hour depending on age and experience. These time sheets will include tracking of 1 hour of personal leave per 20 hours worked, which if unused, FOSNP agrees to provide the NextGen Ranger the accumulated unused portion at the end of the NextGen Rangerâ¿¿s appointment.
5. Manage and carry out administrative and supervisory functions associated with the provisions of services under this agreement, including provision of appropriate uniform items distinguishing the interns from other park and partner staff. Maintain administrative records for all participants.Coordinate with NPS to take corrective measures for all interns in the case of conduct issues.
6. Follow all NPS policies and regulations regarding the placement of participants at NPS sites.
7. Provide a comprehensive annual report of all NPS related activities and achievements along with participant demographic
8. In accordance with Title 16 USC Sec 1721-1726; Public Law 109-154, Public Lands Corps Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2005, FOSNP will determine if the work completed by the NextGen qualifies as a Public Land Corps (PLC) qualifying project and will recommend qualified NextGen members for PLC hiring authority as appropriate.

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AGREES TO:
1. Upon review and concurrence, accept internship placements with the Division of Resource Management.
2. Don Swann, Biologist, will serve as mentor to the interns and will provide feedback on scheduled projects and assignments.
3. Mentor will provide opportunities for learning about all aspects of natural resource and management of native and invasive vegetation.
4. Transfer funds to compensate, partially or in full, interns accepted into the program and placed with a park mentor and other necessary expenses.
5. Coordinate with FOSNP if disciplinary or other administrative action is required for interns.

6. Provide applicable training, including safety, communication, and other necessary skill building in order for the intern to be successful in their placement.
7. In accordance with Title 16 USC Sec 1721-1726; Public Law 109-154, Public Lands Corps Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2005, SAGU will review recommended NextGen members to determine if they qualify for PLC hiring authority as appropriate. SAGU agrees to certify former NextGen as PLC eligible upon completion of the 120 hour PLC project.