Bringing Youth Outdoors Together and Environmental Steward Program | P25AS00187

Opportunity Information: Apply for P25AS00187

The Bringing Youth Outdoors Together and Environmental Steward Program (Funding Opportunity Number P25AS00187) is a National Park Service discretionary grant opportunity designed to connect young people with meaningful outdoor experiences tied to their local national parks and nearby public lands. The program centers on youth development and whole-person growth by combining recreation, hands-on service, and learning experiences that build social and environmental responsibility. A core theme is healthy living, with activities that encourage time outdoors, active recreation, and a deeper appreciation of nature. Just as important, the program emphasizes the value of natural and cultural resources, helping participants understand why parks matter, how they are protected, and how communities relate to these places historically and today.

A major focus of this opportunity is expanding access for young people who have traditionally faced barriers to outdoor recreation and environmental education. The description specifically highlights youth from underserved communities, including those in urban and rural areas as well as military-connected and Native settings. In practice, that means projects are expected to reduce obstacles like transportation, cost, limited local programming, lack of equipment, or limited familiarity with national parks. The intent is not only to offer a one-time trip, but to create structured experiences and excursions that help youth feel that these parks belong to them and are relevant to their lives and communities.

Funding is offered through a cooperative agreement, which typically means the National Park Service is likely to have an active role in the project beyond simply issuing funds, such as collaborating on program design, resource interpretation, coordination with park units, or ensuring activities align with park priorities and safety requirements. The funding activity category is Education, and the CFDA (Assistance Listing) number is 15.954. The program is positioned as a partnership-friendly opportunity that can support a range of youth-serving approaches, including outdoor learning, stewardship service projects, and programming that links recreation with conservation and cultural resource awareness.

Eligible applicants include a wide set of public, educational, tribal, and nonprofit entities. This includes state, county, and city/township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in that nonprofit category). This broad eligibility suggests the program is intended to support partnerships among parks, schools, youth organizations, community groups, and tribal or local governments that can reach youth and deliver programming in or near national park settings.

The original closing date for applications is February 8, 2025, and the opportunity was created on December 10, 2024. The listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which usually signals that the maximum award amount is not specified in the summarized fields and may be detailed in the full announcement or attached guidance. The number of expected awards is not provided in the summary data shown, which again suggests that the full announcement materials may clarify anticipated funding levels, project periods, program expectations, and selection criteria.

Overall, this grant opportunity supports projects that get youth outdoors in purposeful ways: learning in parks, recreating safely, participating in service or stewardship, and building long-term connections to natural and cultural resources. The strongest projects will likely be those that intentionally reach underserved youth, remove practical barriers to participation, and use national parks as living classrooms where recreation and environmental stewardship reinforce each other.

• The National Park Service in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bringing Youth Outdoors Together and Environmental Steward Program" 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 2024-12-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-02-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for P25AS00187

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