Notice of Intent: Next Generation Ranger Corps opportunity to learn traditional interpretation in the Tucson Mountain District | P17AS00512

Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00512

This government grant opportunity, titled "Notice of Intent: Next Generation Ranger Corps opportunity to learn traditional interpretation in the Tucson Mountain District" (Funding Opportunity Number P17AS00512), is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary cooperative agreement under the Department of the Interior. It sits within the Natural Resources funding activity area (CFDA 15.954) and was posted on July 19, 2017, with an original closing date of July 29, 2017. The opportunity anticipates a single award (Expected Awards: 1) with an award ceiling listed as 1 (as provided in the source data), and eligibility is broadly categorized as "Others," with further details intended to be clarified in the full eligibility text associated with the announcement.

The core purpose of this notice is not to launch an entirely new effort from scratch, but to modify an existing agreement by updating the Scope of Work (specifically ARTICLE III), adding funding, and extending the project end date so that the project can move into Phase II. Phase II is described as being carried out with NPS partners in the Division of Interpretation and the River, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, signaling a blend of interpretive training and hands-on community-based conservation and recreation planning support.

Programmatically, Phase II continues the project focus on traditional interpretation opportunities in the Tucson Mountain District, meaning the intern or participant will keep building skills in communicating cultural, historical, and resource-based stories tied to the Sonoran Desert and its people. At the same time, Phase II expands the scope beyond interpretation alone by adding structured opportunities to engage and collaborate with local community organizers. A key new emphasis is helping build "Park Prescription" or "RX Trails" work, an approach that connects outdoor recreation and accessible trail use with public health goals, often in partnership with healthcare providers and community groups.

The activities described for the intern are practical and community-facing. The participant will be involved in a community park and trail assessment program, which typically involves evaluating existing park and trail assets, identifying gaps in access or safety, and collecting information that can inform improvements. The intern will also assist with creating maps that identify neighborhood walking routes, which supports the RX Trails concept by making it easier for residents and healthcare partners to recommend safe, approachable walking options. In addition to assessment and mapping, the intern will shadow and assist with a range of community assistance tasks, including participating in community planning meetings and supporting youth engagement work, suggesting an expectation that the intern will gain experience in public-facing facilitation, outreach, and partnership-building.

Another central component is collaboration with community health professionals to plan and develop a long-term program that encourages patients to engage with trails, desert plants, and traditional cuisine associated with the desert people. This points to an integrated model combining outdoor activity, cultural knowledge, and wellness education. The opportunity explicitly mentions "Walk with a Doc" style programs, which are organized group walks led or supported by medical professionals, reinforcing that the project is meant to bridge public lands stewardship with community health outcomes. These activities may take place at Saguaro National Park as well as other public lands, indicating the work could extend beyond one park unit depending on partnerships and program needs.

Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a Phase II funding modification to continue and broaden a Next Generation Ranger Corps internship-style project: preserving and teaching traditional interpretation in the Tucson Mountain District while building community partnerships that support public-health-oriented trail programming, neighborhood walking route mapping, community planning support, and hands-on engagement efforts such as youth involvement and Walk with a Doc events.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent: Next Generation Ranger Corps opportunity to learn traditional interpretation in the Tucson Mountain District" 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 Jul 19, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 29, 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 $1.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for P17AS00512

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