Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00396
The Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00396) is a discretionary funding announcement from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). It is structured as a cooperative agreement, which generally means the federal agency expects to play an active role in the project rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The program sits within the Natural Resources funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 15.676.
At its core, the opportunity is designed to create hands-on learning, education, and employment pathways for youth to participate in real conservation work. The target audience is broad, covering youth of all ages from pre-kindergarten through early adulthood. The announcement explicitly includes a wide range of participant roles, such as students, associates, fellows, interns, members, and volunteers. The main emphasis is on experiential opportunities that connect young people directly to natural resources conservation through practical activities and structured programs.
Projects supported under this opportunity are expected to involve conservation activities carried out by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or in collaboration with partners. Collaboration is a major theme, and the announcement points to potential partnerships not only within the Department of the Interior (including the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and U.S. Geological Survey), but also across other federal agencies such as the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and Labor, as well as entities like the Environmental Protection Agency and the Corporation for National and Community Service. In addition to federal partners, non-federal entities can also be part of these efforts, reinforcing the intent to build broad coalitions around youth conservation programming.
The purpose of these education, career, and leadership development programs is to engage, educate, and employ youth in ways that build interest and capability in conservation-related fields. In practical terms, that can include exposing participants to conservation careers, developing job-ready skills, offering mentored field experiences, and creating structured early-career opportunities that help youth envision and pursue longer-term work in natural resources. A stated goal is to strengthen both internal coordination across agencies and external partnerships that support or enhance youth-focused conservation initiatives, including creating clearer pipelines into future career and employment opportunities.
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is broadly open to many types of applicants, subject to any additional clarifications that may have been included in the official eligibility text. The announcement anticipated a single award, with an award ceiling of $36,000. The opportunity was created on August 14, 2017, with an original closing date of August 21, 2017, indicating a short application window for that specific funding cycle.Apply for F17AS00396
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.676.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 14, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 21, 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 $36,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F17AS00396.
Which federal agency is offering this funding?
This is a discretionary funding announcement from the U.S. Department of the Interior, specifically the Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement, which generally means the federal agency expects to have an active role in the project rather than only providing funds.
What is the main purpose of this opportunity?
The core purpose is to create hands-on learning, education, and employment pathways for youth to participate in real conservation work, connecting young people directly to natural resources conservation through practical activities and structured programs.
What funding activity/category is this program associated with?
The opportunity sits within the Natural Resources funding activity category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.676.
Who is the program intended to serve (what age group)?
The target audience is broad and includes youth of all ages, ranging from pre-kindergarten through early adulthood.
What kinds of youth participation roles are included?
The announcement explicitly includes a wide range of participant roles, including students, associates, fellows, interns, members, and volunteers.
What types of activities or experiences are emphasized?
The emphasis is on experiential opportunities that connect youth to conservation through practical activities and structured programs tied to natural resources and conservation work.
Do projects need to involve USFWS conservation work?
Projects supported under this opportunity are expected to involve conservation activities carried out by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and/or conservation activities conducted in collaboration with partners.
How important are partnerships and collaboration in this opportunity?
Collaboration is a major theme. The opportunity points to coordination and partnership building both within the Department of the Interior and across other federal agencies, along with non-federal entities, to build broad coalitions around youth conservation programming.
Which Department of the Interior bureaus are mentioned as potential collaborators?
The announcement references potential partnerships within the Department of the Interior, including the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Which other federal agencies or entities are mentioned as potential partners?
The opportunity mentions potential collaboration with other federal agencies such as the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and Labor, as well as entities like the Environmental Protection Agency and the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Are non-federal partners allowed or expected?
Yes. The opportunity states that non-federal entities can be part of these efforts, reinforcing the intent to build broad coalitions supporting youth-focused conservation programming.
What outcomes is the program trying to achieve for youth participants?
The stated purpose is to engage, educate, and employ youth in ways that build interest and capability in conservation-related fields. Examples described include exposure to conservation careers, development of job-ready skills, mentored field experiences, and structured early-career opportunities.
Does the opportunity focus only on education, or also on employment and leadership development?
It is framed as supporting education, career, and leadership development programs, with the goal of strengthening pipelines into future career and employment opportunities in natural resources.
What does "unrestricted eligibility" mean for this opportunity?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to many types of applicants, subject to any additional clarifications that may have been included in the official eligibility text.
How many awards were anticipated?
The announcement anticipated a single award.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $36,000.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on August 14, 2017.
What was the application closing date for this funding cycle?
The original closing date listed is August 21, 2017, indicating a short application window for that specific cycle.
Is this a competitive/discretionary funding announcement?
Yes. It is described as a discretionary funding announcement from USFWS.
What is meant by creating "pipelines" into conservation careers?
As described in the announcement, the idea is to create clearer pathways from youth programming into longer-term opportunities by combining exposure to conservation careers, skill-building, mentored experiences, and structured early-career roles connected to natural resources work.
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| Notice of Intent: Conduct Restoration and Improve Visitor Experience at Three Picnic Areas Apply for P17AS00655 Funding Number: P17AS00655 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Apply for F17AS00399 Funding Number: F17AS00399 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $94,500 |
| Cooperative Landscape Conservation Apply for F17AS00398 Funding Number: F17AS00398 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $44,000 |
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| Youth in Resource Management Apply for P17AS00657 Funding Number: P17AS00657 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $36,600 |
| Acquatic Connectivity Apply for F17AS00400 Funding Number: F17AS00400 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| 2017 San Luis Water District-Kaljian Drainwater Reuse Project Apply for BOR MP 17 N030 Funding Number: BOR MP 17 N030 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Batty About Bats Intern Apply for P17AS00665 Funding Number: P17AS00665 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $36,600 |
| Developing Skills and Methods for Landscape Scale Inventory and Evaluation of Cultural Resources Apply for P17AS00666 Funding Number: P17AS00666 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $439,999 |
| 15.648 Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Apply for F17AS00406 Funding Number: F17AS00406 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Central Valley Improvement (CVI) Anadromous Fish Restoration (AFR) Apply for F17AS00287 Funding Number: F17AS00287 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Modeling Habitat Connectivity to Support State Wildlife Action Plans in the Mid-South Apply for F17AS00407 Funding Number: F17AS00407 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $70,000 |
| Geospatial Analytics for the Fire Management Offices of the National Capital, Northeast, and Southeast Regions of the National Park Service Apply for P17AS00670 Funding Number: P17AS00670 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $99,875 |
| Mission Blue Butterfly Translocation Project Apply for P17AS00660 Funding Number: P17AS00660 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $263,000 |
| Central Valley Project Improvement Act/Anadromous Fish Restoration Program Apply for F17AS00379 Funding Number: F17AS00379 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $216,482 |
| BLM Utah Vernal Information Center Apply for L17AS00230 Funding Number: L17AS00230 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $4,000 |
| Collaborative Management and Implementation of Chesapeake National Historic Trails and Chesapeake Gateways, Parks and Sites Programs and Projects Apply for NPS 17 NERO 0142 Funding Number: NPS 17 NERO 0142 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $645,931 |
| 2017 Bayou de Chien and MS Bayous Project of Kentucky Apply for F17AS00410 Funding Number: F17AS00410 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Exotic Species Control at Naval Auxiliary Landing Field San Clemente Island Apply for N62473 17 2 0013 Funding Number: N62473 17 2 0013 Agency: Department of Defense, NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING COMMAND Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $117,050 |
| Improve Hornbek Homestead Accessibility to Enhance Visitor Experience Apply for P17AS00677 Funding Number: P17AS00677 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $54,000 |
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