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.Apply for P25AS00187
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Bringing Youth Outdoors Together and Environmental Steward Program?
It is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary grant opportunity designed to connect young people with meaningful outdoor experiences tied to their local national parks and nearby public lands. Projects are expected to combine outdoor recreation, hands-on service or stewardship, and learning experiences that support youth development and whole-person growth.
What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P25AS00187.
Who is the federal agency offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the National Park Service (NPS).
What is the main purpose of this program?
The program aims to help youth build strong, lasting connections to natural and cultural resources by participating in structured outdoor experiences that blend recreation, education, and stewardship. It emphasizes social and environmental responsibility, healthy living, and understanding why parks matter and how they are protected.
What types of activities does the program support?
Based on the description, supported activities may include outdoor learning, safe active recreation, hands-on service or stewardship projects, and programming that builds awareness of conservation and cultural resources. The intent is to use parks and nearby public lands as living classrooms where learning and stewardship reinforce each other.
What is meant by "whole-person growth" in the program description?
Whole-person growth refers to youth development that goes beyond a single skill or topic. The program description highlights experiences that build social and environmental responsibility, encourage healthy living through outdoor activity, and strengthen understanding of natural and cultural resources and their relevance to communities.
How does the program define or emphasize healthy living?
Healthy living is framed as encouraging time outdoors, active recreation, and developing a deeper appreciation of nature. Projects should promote outdoor activity as a positive and meaningful part of participants lives.
Is this program only about recreation, or is education required too?
The funding activity category is Education, and the program description emphasizes learning experiences tied to national parks and public lands. Recreation is a core element, but it is presented alongside service/stewardship and learning about natural and cultural resources.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for this opportunity?
The CFDA (Assistance Listing) number is 15.954.
What does it mean that funding is provided through a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically means the National Park Service is likely to have an active role in the project beyond issuing funds. The description suggests this may include collaboration on program design, interpretation of resources, coordination with park units, and ensuring alignment with park priorities and safety requirements.
Are projects expected to work directly with national parks?
The opportunity is designed around experiences tied to local national parks and nearby public lands. The cooperative agreement structure also suggests coordination with park units may be part of project development and implementation.
Who is the intended audience for supported projects?
The intended participants are young people, with a strong emphasis on expanding access for youth who have traditionally faced barriers to outdoor recreation and environmental education.
Which youth populations are specifically highlighted as a priority?
The description specifically highlights youth from underserved communities, including urban and rural communities, military-connected settings, and Native settings.
What kinds of barriers to participation should projects address?
Projects are expected to reduce obstacles such as transportation challenges, cost, limited local programming, lack of equipment, and limited familiarity with national parks.
Does the program prefer one-time events or more structured programming?
The description indicates the intent is not only to offer a one-time trip. It emphasizes structured experiences and excursions that help youth build lasting connections and feel that parks are relevant to their lives and communities.
What role do natural and cultural resources play in this program?
The program emphasizes the value of natural and cultural resources by helping participants understand why parks matter, how resources are protected, and how communities relate to these places historically and today.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
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; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in that nonprofit category).
Can nonprofits apply if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (with the caveat that the nonprofit category described excludes institutions of higher education).
Can tribal entities apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments.
Are schools and universities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education.
Are local governments eligible?
Yes. Eligibility includes county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments, as well as state governments.
Is this opportunity described as partnership-friendly?
Yes. The description positions the program as partnership-friendly and suited to collaborations among parks, schools, youth organizations, community groups, and tribal or local governments.
What is the application deadline?
The original closing date for applications is February 8, 2025.
When was this grant opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on December 10, 2024.
What is the award ceiling (maximum award amount)?
The listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which usually indicates the maximum award amount is not specified in the summarized fields and may be provided in the full announcement or related guidance.
How many awards will be made?
The number of expected awards is not provided in the summary information shown. The full announcement may provide additional details about anticipated award counts.
Where can applicants find details that are not included in the summary (like award size or project expectations)?
The summary indicates that key details (such as the maximum award amount, expected number of awards, and potentially project periods and selection criteria) may be explained in the full announcement materials or attached guidance.
What kinds of projects are likely to be a strong fit for this grant?
Based on the description, strong projects are likely to be those that intentionally reach underserved youth, remove practical barriers to participation, and create structured experiences in national parks or nearby public lands that integrate outdoor learning, safe recreation, and stewardship while building understanding of natural and cultural resources.
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