Opportunity Information: Apply for L16AS00116
Apply for L16AS00116
- The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM-WO, Providing Access to Public Lands and Waters to Underserved Youth" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.225.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 16, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 18, 2016. (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 $15,000.00 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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Opportunity Summary:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), part of the U.S. Department of the Interior, offered this discretionary funding opportunity as a cooperative agreement to support projects that help underserved youth access and enjoy BLM-managed public lands and waters. The program is rooted in a simple problem the agency is trying to address: although BLM oversees roughly 245 million acres that support a huge range of outdoor recreation (camping, fishing, hiking, boating, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, photography, climbing, winter sports, and visits to natural and cultural heritage sites), many Americans either do not realize these opportunities exist or do not feel prepared to participate. The barriers are especially pronounced for youth who live in urban areas and for youth with disabilities, who may face transportation hurdles, limited exposure to outdoor settings, lack of adaptive equipment or trained support, and fewer chances to build confidence outdoors.
The central objective of the grant is to help nonprofit organizations create real, hands-on recreation experiences for under-resourced youth on BLM lands. The opportunity is designed for organizations that can take young people from diverse backgrounds into these public landscapes and provide safe, structured, educational recreation. The notice highlights examples of the kinds of activities BLM wants to see, including educational hikes, camping trips, backpacking or horse packing trips, canoeing or kayaking, and bird watching. While the activities themselves can vary, the underlying expectation is consistent: projects should meaningfully expand access for the target audiences, not just promote public lands in the abstract. The agency also signals that it values partners with a track record of youth engagement and an understanding of the needs of non-traditional users, including varying ability levels and the practical supports required to participate fully.
A strong emphasis is placed on partnerships and community buy-in. Applicants are expected to have experience working with federal land management agencies and to collaborate with community partners such as schools, youth-serving organizations, businesses, and foundations. That combination is meant to ensure participants are well-supported and that the project has enough local credibility and logistical capacity to actually reach the intended youth. The BLM also frames the effort as part of its broader tradition of working with external partners to engage young people, pointing to programs like Wilderness Inquiry's Canoemobile, which pairs environmental education with canoe experiences for urban youth on Department of the Interior waterways, including BLM-managed areas. This is essentially an invitation for similar models that blend recreation with learning and mentorship.
The public benefit section makes clear that the grant is not only about a single outing or a short-term experience. The larger purpose is to connect young people with nature in a way that builds long-term comfort and belonging on public lands, especially for communities that have historically had fewer opportunities to use them. BLM explicitly ties the program to departmental priorities such as connecting youth with nature, teaching outdoor ethics and an understanding of natural resources, increasing awareness of special places like the National Landscape Conservation System, and introducing young people to potential land management and conservation careers. In other words, the recreation component is also a vehicle for education, stewardship, and workforce awareness. The agency's message is that public lands are meant to be accessed and enjoyed by all Americans, and that targeted outreach, education, and access support can close the gap for youth who might otherwise be left out.
From the funding details provided, this opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L16AS00116, CFDA 15.225, activity category Natural Resources) was posted May 16, 2016, with an original closing date of July 18, 2016. The anticipated award structure was modest and focused: one expected award with an award ceiling of $15,000. Eligibility is described as unrestricted in general terms, but the narrative makes it clear the intended applicants are nonprofits capable of delivering youth-focused recreation access programs and coordinating effectively with BLM and local partners. The cooperative agreement instrument type also implies that BLM expected to have substantial involvement during the project, which typically can include coordination on site selection, safety and resource protection considerations, compliance needs, and alignment with BLM recreation and education goals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), within the U.S. Department of the Interior, offered as a cooperative agreement. It is intended to support projects that help underserved youth access and enjoy BLM-managed public lands and waters through real, hands-on recreation experiences.
Which agency is offering the funding?
The funding is offered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What problem is BLM trying to address with this program?
BLM is trying to close a participation gap: even though BLM oversees roughly 245 million acres with many recreation opportunities, many Americans either do not realize these opportunities exist or do not feel prepared to participate. Barriers are especially significant for youth in urban areas and youth with disabilities due to transportation hurdles, limited exposure, lack of adaptive equipment or trained support, and fewer opportunities to build outdoor confidence.
What is the central objective of the grant?
The central objective is to help nonprofit organizations create meaningful, hands-on recreation experiences for under-resourced youth on BLM lands, with safe, structured, and educational outdoor activities that expand access for target audiences.
Who is the target audience for projects funded under this opportunity?
The target audience is underserved or under-resourced youth, with particular emphasis on youth who live in urban areas and youth with disabilities who face added barriers to participating in outdoor recreation.
What types of activities does BLM want to support?
The notice highlights examples such as educational hikes, camping trips, backpacking or horse packing trips, canoeing or kayaking, and bird watching. Activities can vary, but projects are expected to deliver real experiences on BLM lands rather than only promotional or awareness efforts.
Does the project have to take place on BLM-managed lands or waters?
Yes. The stated purpose is to provide youth with access to and experiences on BLM-managed public lands and waters.
Is the program only about recreation, or is there an educational component?
While recreation is central, BLM frames recreation as a vehicle for broader outcomes such as environmental education, outdoor ethics, understanding natural resources, increased awareness of special places (including the National Landscape Conservation System), and exposure to potential land management and conservation careers.
Does BLM expect projects to create long-term impact beyond a single outing?
Yes. The public benefit description emphasizes building long-term comfort and belonging on public lands, particularly for communities that have historically had fewer opportunities to use them, rather than focusing only on a single trip or short-term experience.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted in general terms. However, the narrative indicates the opportunity is intended for nonprofit organizations that can deliver youth-focused recreation access programs and coordinate effectively with BLM and local partners.
What qualities does BLM value in applicants?
BLM signals it values partners with a track record of youth engagement, an understanding of the needs of non-traditional users (including varying ability levels), and the ability to provide practical supports such as transportation, appropriate equipment, trained support, and structured programming that helps youth participate safely and confidently.
Are partnerships required or encouraged?
Partnerships are strongly emphasized. Applicants are expected to collaborate with community partners such as schools, youth-serving organizations, businesses, and foundations to strengthen community buy-in, credibility, and logistical capacity to reach the intended youth.
Does BLM expect applicants to have experience working with federal land management agencies?
Yes. The notice states applicants are expected to have experience working with federal land management agencies, alongside strong community collaboration.
What is an example of a model BLM is pointing to?
BLM references Wilderness Inquiry's Canoemobile as an example: a model that pairs environmental education with canoe experiences for urban youth on Department of the Interior waterways, including BLM-managed areas. The notice suggests it is inviting similar models that blend recreation with learning and mentorship.
What is the funding instrument type, and what does it imply?
The instrument is a cooperative agreement. This typically implies BLM expected substantial involvement during the project, which can include coordination on site selection, safety and resource protection considerations, compliance needs, and alignment with BLM recreation and education goals.
How many awards were expected under this opportunity?
The opportunity anticipated one award.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $15,000.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is L16AS00116.
What is the CFDA number and activity category?
The CFDA number is 15.225, and the activity category is Natural Resources.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on May 16, 2016, and the original closing date was July 18, 2016.
Is the goal to promote public lands generally, or to provide direct experiences?
The expectation is to meaningfully expand access through direct, hands-on experiences for the target audiences. The notice distinguishes this from efforts that only promote public lands in the abstract.
What barriers for youth does the opportunity specifically mention?
Examples of barriers include transportation hurdles, limited exposure to outdoor settings, lack of adaptive equipment or trained support, and fewer chances to build confidence outdoors, particularly for urban youth and youth with disabilities.
What kinds of broader departmental priorities does BLM connect this program to?
BLM ties the program to priorities such as connecting youth with nature, teaching outdoor ethics, increasing understanding of natural resources, raising awareness of special places (including the National Landscape Conservation System), and introducing young people to potential conservation and land management careers.
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| BLM OR-WA Gooseneck Creek County Road Culvert Replacement-Fish Passage Restoration Apply for L16AS00216 Funding Number: L16AS00216 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $45,000 |
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