The National Park Foundation just announced that it will invest nearly $5.5 million to support 42 service corps projects across the country that engage youth, young adults, and veterans to complete essential work and enhancements in our National Parks. At the same time, participants will gain practical experience and deepen their connections to these treasured places.
Service corps crews work under the guidance and mentorship of National Park Service staff to complete essential projects to improve access for recreation, protect parks from wildland fires, and address critical facilities and infrastructure needs.
Each crew provides support for parks while crew members gain practical skills in the field and earn trade certifications. Whether participants return as part of another seasonal crew or pursue a career in parks, trades, or private sector work, each experience strengthens parks while inspiring future stewards.
Chosen through a competitive process, some of this year’s grantees include:
- American Conservation Experience will complete critical recreation access projects, dock repair, trail maintenance, deferred maintenance, and historic preservation projects at Christiansted National Historic Site.
- American YouthWorks will complete priority deferred maintenance and recreation access improvements across high-use and historically significant areas of Hot Springs National Park.
- Conservation Legacy will pilot a fellowship program dedicated to strengthening the capacity across youth programs with the NPS Historic Preservation Training Center within NPS, increasing opportunities for youth corps participation.
- Environment for the Americas will partner with Golden Gate National Recreation Area to complete trail maintenance, resource protection, and museum collection preservation over the span of 11 months.
- Friends of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park will host a year-long crew at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, completing critical recreation access projects, trail construction and maintenance, and disaster assistance. Â
- Student Conservation Association will place 12 fellows with NPS’ Structural Fire Program to support structural fire protection and prevention efforts – like inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire protection systems, portable fire extinguishers, and fire hydrant systems – in parks for 10 weeks.Â
This year’s investment also includes $1.5 million to assemble 12 Maintenance Action Teams projects to address high priority, timely infrastructure projects in National Parks. Their projects are already underway and will be completed by the end of the year. To view the full list of this year’s grantees go here.
