Opportunity Information: Apply for P18AS00579
The Science Summer Camp grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P18AS00579) is a National Park Service cooperative agreement under the U.S. Department of the Interior focused on natural resources education and youth engagement. The project centers on the Appalachian Trail experience in and around Great Smoky Mountain National Park, using a hands-on, outdoor setting to build interest in park resources, stewardship, and public lands. The core idea is to get high school-aged students out on the trail in a way that blends backpacking with meaningful service work, so participants are not only learning about the landscape but also actively contributing to its care.
The funded effort is built around the Millennial Youth-Led Expedition of Science (MYLES), described as a one-week summer camp offered five separate times. Each session is designed for 12 students, resulting in a total of 60 youth served across the full program. While the notice is brief, the structure implies a repeatable camp model with small cohorts, which typically supports close supervision, strong peer group dynamics, and the ability to deliver consistent instruction and service outcomes week to week. The emphasis on “youth-led” suggests participants may take on leadership roles or participate in planning, field tasks, and group decision-making, which can strengthen teamwork and long-term engagement with conservation or science pathways.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity was listed as discretionary funding using a cooperative agreement, meaning the National Park Service would likely expect active involvement in the project beyond simply issuing funds, such as coordinating with park staff, aligning activities with park priorities, and ensuring safety and resource protection standards are met. The award ceiling was $69,100. The posting shows an original creation date of August 23, 2018, with an original closing date of September 1, 2018. The listing also shows “Expected Awards: 0,” which can sometimes appear in older notices depending on how the opportunity was recorded or later handled, but the intent of the announcement is clearly to support delivery of the MYLES camp sessions described.
Eligibility is aimed primarily at nonprofit organizations with IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education, with additional categories referenced as “Others” depending on the clarification in the full eligibility text. The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 15.935 and is categorized under natural resources, reflecting its focus on park-based learning, outdoor skills, and service projects that benefit Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the broader Appalachian Trail experience. Overall, the grant is designed to combine outdoor recreation, practical conservation service, and science or resource-focused learning to help high school students connect with the park, understand stewardship, and build lasting interest in public lands.Apply for P18AS00579
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Science Summer Camp" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.935.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 23, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 01, 2018. (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 $69,100.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Science Summer Camp Grant (P18AS00579) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Science Summer Camp grant opportunity?
The Science Summer Camp grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P18AS00579) is a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement under the U.S. Department of the Interior. It focuses on natural resources education and youth engagement through an outdoor, hands-on program connected to the Appalachian Trail experience in and around Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
What is the main goal of the funded project?
The project is designed to build high school students' interest in park resources, stewardship, and public lands by combining backpacking with meaningful service work. Participants learn about the landscape while also contributing directly to its care.
What program model does the funding support?
The funded effort is built around the Millennial Youth-Led Expedition of Science (MYLES), described as a one-week summer camp that is offered five separate times.
How many students are expected to be served?
Each MYLES session is designed for 12 students, with five sessions total. That results in a total of 60 youth served across the full program.
How long is each camp session?
Each session is described as a one-week summer camp.
How many camp sessions are included in the project?
The MYLES camp is described as being offered five separate times (five one-week sessions).
Who is the target participant age group?
The program is intended for high school-aged students.
Where does the program take place?
The project centers on the Appalachian Trail experience in and around Great Smoky Mountain National Park, using an outdoor, hands-on setting.
What types of activities are emphasized in the camp?
The notice emphasizes a blend of backpacking and meaningful service work. The overall focus is outdoor recreation plus practical conservation service and science or resource-focused learning connected to park resources and stewardship.
What does "youth-led" imply in the MYLES model?
Based on the description, "youth-led" suggests participants may take on leadership roles or participate in planning, field tasks, and group decision-making. This approach can support teamwork and encourage longer-term engagement with conservation or science pathways.
What type of federal funding instrument is this?
This opportunity is described as discretionary funding using a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
Because it is a cooperative agreement, the National Park Service would likely expect active involvement beyond simply issuing funds. The description suggests involvement such as coordinating with park staff, aligning activities with park priorities, and meeting safety and resource protection standards.
Which federal agency is offering the opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the National Park Service (NPS) under the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P18AS00579.
What is the CFDA number associated with this grant?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 15.935.
What is the subject area or category of the opportunity?
The grant is categorized under natural resources, reflecting a focus on park-based learning, outdoor skills, and service projects benefiting Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the broader Appalachian Trail experience.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $69,100.
When was the opportunity originally posted?
The posting shows an original creation date of August 23, 2018.
When was the original closing date?
The posting shows an original closing date of September 1, 2018.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is aimed primarily at nonprofit organizations with IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education. The notice also references additional categories as "Others," depending on clarification in the full eligibility text.
Are colleges and universities eligible to apply?
The notice indicates that institutions of higher education are excluded from the primary nonprofit eligibility category described.
What does it mean that the listing shows "Expected Awards: 0"?
The listing shows "Expected Awards: 0," which can sometimes appear in older notices depending on how the opportunity was recorded or later handled. The description of the announcement indicates the intent was to support delivery of the MYLES camp sessions described.
What kinds of outcomes is the grant designed to support?
Based on the description, outcomes include youth engagement with public lands, increased interest in park resources and stewardship, hands-on learning in an outdoor setting, and completion of service work that contributes to caring for the landscape in and around Great Smoky Mountain National Park and the Appalachian Trail experience.
Why does the opportunity emphasize service work alongside backpacking?
The core idea described is that students should not only learn about the landscape but also actively contribute to its care. Service work is presented as a way to connect learning with stewardship and tangible benefits to park resources.
How is the camp structured to support supervision and instruction?
The notice describes small cohorts (12 students per week) repeated across five sessions. This implies a repeatable model with small groups that typically supports close supervision, strong peer group dynamics, and consistent delivery of instruction and service outcomes from session to session.
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