Opportunity Information: Apply for NOI NPS 18 MACA 0001
The "Interpretation Park Guide Interns" opportunity is a National Park Service (NPS) funding notice that serves as a Notice of Intent to Award, meaning the NPS is announcing publicly that it plans to make an award under an existing master cooperative agreement that was previously competed, or was justified as single-source. Instead of being an open-ended competition for brand-new applicants, this type of notice typically indicates the agency has already established the partnership vehicle it will use and is moving toward issuing a specific task agreement under that umbrella.
The purpose of the cooperative agreement is youth workforce and education focused: it is designed to place youth in a national park setting so they can gain practical experience and build the core knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with entry-level interpretation work in the National Park Service. The interns are expected to function in highly public-facing roles, learning how to communicate park stories and resource significance to diverse audiences while operating in real interpretive settings. This is hands-on training intended to develop foundational interpretive competencies, not just observation or classroom learning.
The work itself centers on delivering interpretive and environmental education programming to visitors at Mammoth Cave National Park. The description highlights that interns will be directly involved in a range of standard interpretive formats, including cave tours, amphitheater programs, roving interpretation, guided nature walks, and structured environmental education activities. In practical terms, this means interns would help present talks and guided experiences, engage visitors informally in the field, support scheduled programs, and contribute to educational outreach that connects people to both natural and cultural resources. A key expectation is active audience engagement: interns are meant to help visitors understand why the park matters, what makes its resources significant, and how those resources fit into the broader mission and story of the National Park Service.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is listed as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement funding instrument, categorized under education, with CFDA number 15.931. The total anticipated award amount (ceiling) is $46,096, with one expected award. The funding opportunity number is "NOI NPS 18 MACA 0001," it was created on May 18, 2018, and the original closing date is May 28, 2018. Eligibility is identified broadly as "Others," with the note that additional eligibility details would be provided in the full announcement. The agency is the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service.
Overall, the grant supports a youth internship program that strengthens interpretation capacity at Mammoth Cave National Park while giving participants a structured pathway to learn how park interpretation works in practice. The interns help deliver visitor programs that translate the park's resources into meaningful public understanding, while also building early-career skills aligned with NPS interpretive work.Apply for NOI NPS 18 MACA 0001
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Interpretation Park Guide Interns" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.931.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 18, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 28, 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 $46,096.00 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).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Interpretation Park Guide Interns (NPS)
What is the "Interpretation Park Guide Interns" opportunity?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) funding notice for an "Interpretation Park Guide Interns" project. The project is designed to support a youth workforce and education focused internship experience in a national park setting, centered on entry-level interpretation work.
Is this an open competitive grant opportunity for new applicants?
Based on the notice description, it is a Notice of Intent to Award rather than an open-ended competition. This typically means NPS is publicly announcing plans to make an award under an existing master cooperative agreement that was already competed (or justified as single-source), and intends to issue a specific task agreement under that existing umbrella.
What does "Notice of Intent to Award" mean in this context?
It means the agency is announcing that it plans to make an award using an already-established partnership vehicle (an existing master cooperative agreement). Instead of soliciting brand-new proposals broadly, the agency is indicating it is moving toward awarding a specific agreement under that existing arrangement.
What is the main purpose of this cooperative agreement?
The purpose is youth workforce development and education. The agreement is designed to place youth in a national park setting where they can gain practical experience and build core knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with entry-level interpretation work in the National Park Service.
What kind of work would the interns be doing?
Interns are expected to support and deliver interpretive and environmental education programming for visitors. The work is described as highly public-facing and hands-on, focused on communicating park stories and resource significance to diverse audiences in real interpretive settings.
Where will the internship activities take place?
The work described in the notice is focused on Mammoth Cave National Park.
What types of interpretive programs are included?
The notice highlights several standard interpretive formats, including cave tours, amphitheater programs, roving interpretation, guided nature walks, and structured environmental education activities.
What does "hands-on training" mean for this opportunity?
It indicates the interns are intended to function in real interpretive settings with direct visitor engagement, not only observing or participating in classroom-only learning. The goal is to develop foundational interpretive competencies through practical experience.
What is meant by "interpretation" in the National Park Service context (as described here)?
In this notice, interpretation refers to communicating park stories and explaining the significance of park resources to visitors. Interns are expected to help audiences understand why the park matters and how its natural and cultural resources connect to the broader NPS mission and story.
What is the funding instrument type?
The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument.
Is this a discretionary or mandatory award?
It is listed as a discretionary award.
What category is this opportunity listed under?
The opportunity is categorized under education.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 15.931.
How much funding is anticipated?
The total anticipated award amount (ceiling) is $46,096.
How many awards are expected?
The notice indicates one expected award.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is "NOI NPS 18 MACA 0001."
Who is the sponsoring agency?
The agency listed is the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service.
When was this opportunity created?
The notice was created on May 18, 2018.
What is the original closing date?
The original closing date listed is May 28, 2018.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is identified broadly as "Others." The notice also indicates that additional eligibility details would be provided in the full announcement.
What is the overall outcome this grant is trying to achieve?
Overall, the grant supports a youth internship program that strengthens interpretation capacity at Mammoth Cave National Park while giving participants a structured pathway to learn how park interpretation works in practice and build early-career skills aligned with NPS interpretive work.
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