Opportunity Information: Apply for P18AS00196
The grant opportunity titled "Cultivating MACAs Next Generation of Park Stewards through Citizen Science" (Funding Opportunity Number P18AS00196) is a discretionary funding chance offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS). It is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the NPS expects to be actively involved with the recipient during project implementation rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The program sits in the environmental funding activity category and is listed under CFDA number 15.945.
At its core, the opportunity responds to two needs that intersect. On one side, there is increasing concern that many public school students are not getting enough practical science exposure or building strong science literacy. On the other side, the National Park Service has an ongoing need for credible, on-the-ground scientific information about park resources, which often requires sustained data collection and observation across time. The project is designed to address both issues by connecting students to real park-based science questions and having them participate in structured, hands-on investigations that also support resource knowledge in the park setting.
The proposed work centers on strengthening an existing environmental education program at MACA by adding higher-level scientific guidance from Western Kentucky University (WKU), specifically through doctorate- and masters-level consultation. This consultation is intended to deepen the scientific rigor of the education program and help shape a set of field study units. Those units are meant to introduce students to multiple science disciplines by engaging them in citizen-science style investigations tied to natural resource questions relevant to the park. In practical terms, this suggests developing curriculum and field activities that move beyond general nature education and into guided inquiry, observation, data collection, and interpretation, with students learning how scientific work is done while contributing useful information.
Funding details indicate an award ceiling of $75,000. The opportunity was created on May 1, 2018, with an original closing date of May 23, 2018. Eligible applicants include private institutions of higher education, along with other applicants as described in additional eligibility text (not included in the excerpt). The listing shows "ExpectedAwards: 0," which can sometimes reflect internal posting conventions or administrative expectations rather than a guarantee of no award, but it is still notable and would typically prompt an applicant to verify the agency's intent and the competitive context if the opportunity were current.
Overall, the grant emphasizes building the next generation of park stewards by giving students direct experience doing science in a national park context, improving science literacy through authentic field investigations, and simultaneously supporting NPS resource needs through carefully designed citizen science field study units guided by university-level scientific expertise.Apply for P18AS00196
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cultivating MACAs Next Generation of Park Stewards through Citizen Science" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 01, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 23, 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 $75,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Cultivating MACAs Next Generation of Park Stewards through Citizen Science."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P18AS00196.
Which agency is offering this funding opportunity?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS).
What type of award is this?
The award is structured as a cooperative agreement. That typically means the National Park Service expects to be actively involved with the recipient during implementation, rather than only providing funding and remaining hands-off.
What funding activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The listing places the opportunity in the environmental funding activity category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number listed is 15.945.
What is the main purpose of the project described in the opportunity?
The project is designed to connect students to real park-based science questions and engage them in structured, hands-on investigations that both improve student science literacy and support NPS needs for credible scientific information about park resources.
What needs is the opportunity trying to address?
The opportunity responds to two intersecting needs: (1) concerns that many public school students are not receiving enough practical science exposure or building strong science literacy, and (2) the National Park Service need for credible, on-the-ground scientific information about park resources, often requiring sustained data collection over time.
How does citizen science fit into this grant?
Citizen science is central to the project concept. Students participate in citizen-science style investigations tied to natural resource questions relevant to the park, involving guided inquiry, observation, data collection, and interpretation.
What site or program is being strengthened?
The proposed work focuses on strengthening an existing environmental education program at MACA.
What role does Western Kentucky University (WKU) play in the proposed work?
WKU is expected to provide higher-level scientific guidance through doctorate- and masters-level consultation, intended to increase scientific rigor and help shape field study units.
What are the field study units expected to do?
The field study units are intended to introduce students to multiple science disciplines by engaging them in investigations tied to park-relevant natural resource questions, moving beyond general nature education to more rigorous scientific practice.
What kinds of student activities are implied by the project description?
Based on the description, activities include guided inquiry in the field, systematic observation, collecting data, and interpreting findings in the context of park-based science questions.
How does this opportunity support the National Park Service (NPS)?
By designing and implementing carefully structured citizen science field study units, the project aims to generate credible, on-the-ground information that can contribute to NPS understanding of park resources.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $75,000.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on May 1, 2018.
What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date was May 23, 2018.
Who is eligible to apply, based on the information provided?
Eligible applicants include private institutions of higher education. The notice also references "other applicants as described in additional eligibility text," but that additional eligibility text is not included in the provided excerpt.
Does the listing indicate how many awards will be made?
The listing shows "ExpectedAwards: 0." The description notes this can sometimes reflect internal posting conventions or administrative expectations rather than a guarantee that no award will be made, but it is still notable.
What does "ExpectedAwards: 0" mean for an applicant?
Based on the provided description, it is not a clear guarantee of no award. It may reflect internal conventions, but it would typically prompt an applicant to confirm agency intent and understand the competitive context (especially if the opportunity were current).
What does the opportunity mean by building "the next generation of park stewards"?
In this context, it refers to giving students direct experience doing science in a national park setting, improving science literacy through authentic field investigations, and fostering stewardship through hands-on engagement with real resource questions.
Is this opportunity focused more on education, research, or both?
Both elements are emphasized: improving student science literacy through authentic investigations (education) while also supporting NPS resource information needs through structured field data collection and observation (applied science support).
Is the NPS expected to be involved after the award is made?
Yes. Because this is a cooperative agreement, NPS involvement during project implementation is expected, rather than a model where funds are awarded and the agency steps back.
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