BLM OR-WA Engaging Oregon Youth in Natural Resource Conservation | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the BLM OR-WA Engaging Oregon Youth in Natural Resource Conservation opportunity?

It is a discretionary Bureau of Land Management (BLM) program (Funding Opportunity Number L16AS00239) offered through the U.S. Department of the Interior. It uses a cooperative agreement to support youth-focused conservation and education work in Oregon, with an emphasis on hands-on learning tied to public land stewardship.

Which federal agency is offering this funding?

The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

What type of funding instrument is used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

The announcement specifies that the program uses a cooperative agreement.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is L16AS00239.

What is the main purpose of this opportunity?

The core purpose is to give Oregon youth meaningful, hands-on opportunities to build STEM skills (science, technology, engineering, and math) while directly supporting conservation and stewardship of public land resources, including both natural and cultural resources.

How does this opportunity relate to the Department of the Interior Youth Initiative?

This opportunity sits under the Department of the Interior Youth Initiative, which is designed to expand and strengthen efforts that engage, educate, and employ young people from all backgrounds on public lands.

Who is the program trying to serve?

The opportunity emphasizes connecting with underserved and at-risk youth, especially those who may face barriers to career awareness and real-world experience in natural resource fields.

What kinds of youth experiences does the program emphasize?

The announcement emphasizes multi-faceted instruction that blends learning with activity-based experiences and mentoring, aiming to build real-world understanding of conservation, stewardship, and public lands management.

What subject areas or skills are emphasized?

The program focuses on STEM skill-building linked to conservation and stewardship, with practical exposure to how public lands are managed and how human activities can affect landscapes and cultural sites.

Does the program support learning about cultural resources as well as natural resources?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes stewardship of both natural and cultural resources on public lands.

What outcomes is BLM aiming for?

A major intended outcome is career exposure and pathway development in the natural resource sector, including awareness of careers with BLM and other natural resource agencies, along with increased motivation for underserved and at-risk students to pursue higher education in related fields.

What does "career pathway development" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Based on the announcement language, projects are expected to introduce students to employment possibilities in natural resource work and help close the gap between school, career awareness, and real-world experience.

Does this opportunity encourage higher education goals for participants?

Yes. The opportunity prioritizes encouraging underserved and at-risk students to view higher education as a realistic next step, including motivation to attend local colleges and universities and consider majors tied to resource management and conservation.

What example academic or career fields are named in the announcement?

The announcement provides example fields such as environmental science, forestry, cadastral survey, engineering, and biology.

Is public education or community benefit part of the program goal?

Yes. The opportunity frames youth projects as a way to provide the public with hands-on education and experience about the importance of protecting and improving public lands, as long as those efforts connect back to youth engagement and learning.

What kinds of activities might fit under the "public education and public benefit" theme?

The announcement indicates support for activities that increase community understanding of conservation issues, restoration work, cultural resource awareness, and the value of long-term stewardship, provided the work remains tied to youth engagement and education.

What is the geographic focus of this opportunity?

The opportunity is focused on Oregon, supporting youth-focused conservation and education work in that state.

What is the activity category listed for this opportunity?

The activity category is Natural Resources.

What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?

The announcement lists CFDA numbers 15.224 and 15.231.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity could apply as long as it met any conditions described in the full announcement.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The listed award ceiling is $8,000.

When were applications due?

Applications were due by September 5, 2016.

Are late applications accepted?

No. The announcement states that late applications were not accepted.

Is this a large, long-term funding opportunity?

Based on the listed award ceiling of $8,000 and the described intent, it is presented as a small, targeted funding opportunity focused on practical conservation skills, mentoring support, and clearer education-to-career pipelines for Oregon youth.

What should a strong proposal align with, according to the announcement themes?

Proposals are strongly aligned when they: (1) engage underserved and at-risk Oregon youth, (2) provide hands-on STEM learning tied to conservation and stewardship of public lands (including cultural resources), (3) include mentoring and activity-based experiences, and (4) build career exposure and higher-education motivation connected to natural resource fields.