YPP 2014 Diversity Youth Intern Program Wind Cave National Park | Apply Online

FAQs: YPP 2014 Diversity Youth Intern Program at Wind Cave National Park (NPS Cooperative Agreement)

1) What is the YPP 2014 Diversity Youth Intern Program at Wind Cave National Park?

It was a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement opportunity in the Midwest Region to bring two young people (age 25 or younger) from diverse or underserved backgrounds into paid, hands-on summer internships focused on interpretation and visitor services at Wind Cave National Park.

2) Is this opportunity a grant to individual interns or to an organization?

The announcement functioned as a Request for Information (RFI) to identify an organization best suited to recruit, place, and support the youth interns in coordination with NPS staff. It was not described as a direct application opportunity for individual interns within the provided information.

3) How many interns were planned under this project?

Two interns were planned.

4) What ages were targeted for the intern positions?

Young people age 25 or younger.

5) What kind of backgrounds were the interns intended to come from?

The program was designed to recruit young people from diverse or underserved backgrounds.

6) What was the internship time period and duration?

The park proposed a 13-week summer term running from May 19 through August 16, 2014.

7) What was the work schedule for interns?

The schedule was structured like a standard full-time job: 8 hours per day, 5 days per week, for the full 13-week term.

8) What types of duties would the interns perform?

The interns were expected to perform front-line public service and interpretation work, including leading two to four guided cave tours per day, presenting discovery programs about park resources beyond the cave, staffing the visitor center information desk, and providing roving interpretation and nature hikes in informal settings such as terraces and parking areas.

9) How much direct visitor contact was expected from the interns?

Close to 1,000 hours of direct visitor contact across the summer season.

10) Were the positions mainly educational, or were they operationally important?

Both. The internships were framed as hands-on learning and mentorship, but the interns were also expected to be operationally important to visitor services. The park anticipated each intern would generate more than $16,000 in tour fees over the summer based on the tours they conducted.

11) What skills were interns expected to build during the internship?

The work plan emphasized skill building such as researching, developing, and delivering four different thematic cave tours; strengthening public speaking and environmental education abilities; and gaining experience writing and designing interpretive programs. Interns were also expected to learn workplace basics like professional communication, research techniques, and the use of computer and presentation tools such as PowerPoint.

12) What training and onboarding support would the park provide?

The park committed to three weeks of training with NPS staff, including mock tours, customer service on the visitor floor, safety and CPR instruction, and cave rescue training.

13) Is prior experience in caves or interpretation required?

No. Prior experience in interpretation, public speaking, environmental education, or caves was described as helpful but not required. Applicants needed strong interest and the ability to communicate with groups.

14) What education or coursework was preferred for interns?

Preferred background included coursework or experience in resource management, American history, natural history, writing/publishing, or communications.

15) Would housing be provided for interns?

Yes. The park provided shared in-park housing at no cost to interns, located within a ten-minute walk of the work site.

16) What is the setting and mission context of Wind Cave National Park mentioned in the announcement?

The park protects a large cave system with more than 141 miles of surveyed passages and rare cave formations, plus about 33,851 acres of mixed-grass prairie and ponderosa pine forest in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota. The announcement referenced goals such as preserving cave resources, maintaining healthy plant communities and hydrologic processes, sustaining native wildlife (including bison, elk, antelope, and prairie dogs), and providing for public enjoyment.

17) What practical living conditions were highlighted for the area?

The information noted extreme seasonal temperatures and provided context on nearby communities for groceries and services (Hot Springs and Custer) and larger shopping in Rapid City, about 60 miles away.

18) What was the purpose of the cooperative agreement from the park's perspective?

It aimed to connect younger generations to national parks through real work experience and mentorship, aligned with the NPS "Call to Action" Goal #2, "Step by Step." It also emphasized workforce development by exposing interns to multiple NPS career paths and helping create a pathway to paid employment at Wind Cave National Park in the following year.

19) What was the maximum funding amount available under this opportunity?

Total available funding was capped at $9,023.

20) How many awards were expected?

A single award was expected.

21) Was a cost-sharing or matching requirement stated?

No cost-sharing requirement was stated in the provided source data.

22) What types of organizations were eligible to respond?

Eligible applicants included certain higher education institutions, certain nonprofits (including those without 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education), and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments).

23) What did interested organizations need to submit?

A concise Statement of Information (maximum three pages) describing how the organization would implement and manage the project with the park. The submission also needed organizational contact details, mission, relevant qualifications, experience recruiting and placing youth interns, examples of past projects, and information on available staff or participants.

24) Was a budget or price information required as part of the submission?

Yes. A preliminary bid was required, with final costs to be negotiated after selection.

25) How and when were submissions due?

Submissions were due electronically by 5:00 CST on February 18, 2014, to the listed NPS contacts.

26) What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?

CFDA 15.931, Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations.

27) What park division or functional area would the interns primarily support?

Interpretation and visitor services, including guided cave tours, visitor center operations, discovery programs, and informal roving interpretation.

28) How large was the staff community the interns would work within?

The internship was described as part of a staff community of more than twenty people.

29) How many guided cave tours per day were interns expected to lead?

Two to four guided cave tours per day.

30) What interpretive products or deliverables were interns expected to create?

Interns were expected to research, develop, and deliver four different thematic cave tours, along with helping write and design interpretive programs.