National Park Service Offering Grant for Fairbanks Conservation Education Internship

ABSTRACT
Funding Announcement P17AC00213
Project Title Conservation Intern for Education projects at Fairbanks Interagency Visitor Center’s Division of Interpretation and Education.

Recipient Student Conservation Association
Total Anticipated Award Amount $34,785.27
Cost Share
Anticipated Length of Agreement 20 weeks
Anticipated Period of Performance 5/15/17 – 9/30/17
Award Instrument Task Agreement
Statutory Authority 54 USC 101702 a
CFDA # and Title 15.931
Single Source Justification Criteria Cited
Point of Contact James Cato

ARTICLE I – BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Cooperative Agreement Number P15AC00031 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, (NPS), and Student Conservation Association (SCA) for the purpose of Conservation Projects. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement.

Project Title, Project Description; The objective of this Task Agreement is to support and stimulate work and/or education and training opportunities for young adults through collaborative participation in Fairbanks Interagency Visitor Center’s Division of Interpretation and Education.

ARTICLE II – LEGAL AUTHORITY

I. 54 U.S. Code § 101702
(a)TRANSFER OF SERVICE APPROPRIATED FUNDS.—
A cooperative agreement entered into by the Secretary that involves the transfer of Service appropriated funds to a State, local, or tribal government or other public entity, an educational institution, or a private nonprofit organization to carry out public purposes of a Service program is a cooperative agreement properly entered into under section 6305 of title 31

ARTICLE III – STATEMENT OF WORK

This task agreement specifies a partnership project between the NPS and the Student Conservation Association which involves placement of a youth associate at the Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands Information Center to participate in the park’s conservation and stewardship programs.

This project will provide the intern with a variety of skills preparing them for future employment in conservation interpretation and education. The Intern will work with park staff to develop a video, digital, or other interpretive media project showcasing an aspect of the park’s youth conservation outreach and education program, such as the Mother/Son Adventure, Geocache Public Lands Pursuit, or Family CAMP programs. The format of the project will depend on the interests and skills of the Intern. The goal of the project is for the Intern to learn about effective conservation education and developing interpretive products and for the public to develop connections to public lands, hear conservation messages, and learn about park programs that are available to them to participate in. The Intern’s final presentation will be available on the park’s website and social media and in other venues as appropriate. Other skills to be developed include:

• The Intern will learn about the planning, preparation, and presentation of interpretive programs.
• The Intern will learn the foundational principles of interpretation and develop skills in informal, roving interpretation.
• The Intern will be trained in good customer service and public interaction through formal training and practice at the park’s visitor center.
• The Intern will learn how to plan safe backcountry trips on public lands in Alaska.
• The Intern will participate in detailed orientation training of multi-agency managed lands, including arctic climate, geology, and diverse ecosystems.
• Learning will occur both in the classroom and in field settings.
• Learning will be focused on the education ideals of conservation and creating the next generation of stewards.
• The intern will receive training in Operational Leadership, CPR/First Aid, Leave-No-Trace principles, and wildlife encounter safety.

A. SCA agrees to:

1. To assist with recruitment and selection of selected candidates as Conservation Associates to participate in the work described in the above Scope of Work.

2. To provide living allowance, insurance, and Americorps awards (when applicable).

3. To provide for transportation to and from residence and subsistence during the period of performance.

4. To provide for in-service commercial travel during the project period of performance.

5. Provide 24/7 staffed hotline assistance, site visit, and performance evaluations.

NPS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based the following criteria:

This is a task agreement that is being issued under an existing, previously competed cooperative agreement P15AC00031 to The Student Conservation Association.