Youth Stewardship and Enagement Program- CHYO | NPS NOIP17AC01141 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP17AC01141 01

The Youth Stewardship and Engagement Program - CHYO is a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement aimed at building a close, working partnership with Central State University to broaden minority participation and awareness of the NPS. The core purpose is planning-focused: it supports the development of concrete plans and program structures that will introduce more minority youth and students to the NPS through agency-wide youth initiatives, hands-on stewardship opportunities, and leadership development activities. A key theme throughout the opportunity is long-term engagement, meaning the project is not simply about one-time events, but about creating a pipeline of exposure, training, and sustained connection between the university community and the national park system.

A major component of the agreement is strengthening pathways for youth involvement and leadership training connected to NPS programming. The intent is to design approaches that help young people, particularly those from historically underrepresented communities, learn what the NPS does and how to participate in or pursue careers related to conservation, interpretation, public history, visitor services, and resource management. The opportunity also includes plans for a scholar-in-residence program, which suggests creating a structured way for scholars or practitioners to contribute expertise, research, mentoring, or public programming tied to the site and its broader historical context.

Another central deliverable is planning to digitize historic collections held at Central State University that relate to the periods of significance associated with the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument (CHYO). This part of the work is about improving access to historically significant materials by preparing them for digital preservation and use, which can support education, research, interpretation, and public engagement. Digitization planning can also help ensure that collections connected to Colonel Charles Young and related themes are better organized, preserved, and made usable for both on-site programming and broader audiences beyond the region.

The partnership structure is designed to ensure substantial NPS involvement, which is why the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant. Central State University is expected to support embedded collaboration by providing office space on campus for NPS personnel and designating a university staff member to serve as the official National Park Service Liaison. This setup is meant to make coordination routine and practical, enabling joint planning, shared oversight, and consistent communication between the university and the NPS.

Geography and shared history are important drivers of the project. Central State University is located near the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, which makes frequent collaboration feasible. The opportunity highlights Colonel Charles Youngs direct connection to the university and the community: he served as the first Professor of Military Science there, moved his family to the area, and purchased the home that later became the national monument. The continuing presence of the Military Science Program at Central State University, which trains students for military careers, reinforces the historical and institutional link and provides a natural platform for education, leadership development, and community engagement connected to the sites story.

In terms of administrative details, this opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, under funding opportunity number NPS NOIP17AC01141 01. It falls under CFDA 15.954 and is categorized across community development, education, employment and training, and humanities-related activities. The posted award ceiling was $80,000 with an expectation of one award. The opportunity was posted June 15, 2018, with an original closing date of July 1, 2018. Eligible applicants are listed as "Others," with clarification typically provided in the programs additional eligibility guidance, but the narrative clearly centers on Central State University as the core partner for this agreement.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the community development, education, employment, labor and training, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Youth Stewardship and Enagement Program- CHYO" 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 Jun 15, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 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 $80,000.00 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 NPS NOIP17AC01141 01

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