Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP15AC00903
The grant opportunity "Coordinate Teacher Training and Education Programming with Local School Districts - SACN" (Funding Opportunity Number NPS NOIP15AC00903) is a National Park Service cooperative agreement designed to expand education and stewardship programming connected to the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The project centers on using the Riverway as a hands-on classroom for nearby communities, building stronger school partnerships while helping students and educators connect local learning to water resources, watershed health, and the natural and cultural significance of the St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers. The effort is framed as a collaboration between the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), and the St. Croix River Association (SCRA), a long-standing nonprofit (Friends Group for the Riverway since 2011) focused on protecting, restoring, and celebrating the St. Croix River and its watershed.
At its core, the agreement supports coordinated teacher professional development and direct student programming in communities bordering the Riverway. The St. Croix Riverway itself is described as a nationally significant landscape established under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 1968, spanning 255 miles and encompassing roughly 92,749 acres within the authorized boundary. Management is shared across federal and state zones, with NPS overseeing the federal portion and Minnesota and Wisconsin managing the lower 25 miles to the Mississippi River confluence. This setting is the backdrop for education programming that ties classroom standards and youth engagement to real-world river ecology, recreation, stewardship, and conservation challenges.
The primary education target is fourth grade, aligning with the NPS "Every Kid in a Park" initiative that encourages meaningful park experiences for young students. The work builds on SCRA's existing leadership in teacher training in the watershed, including its assumption of the Earth Partnership for Schools Water Stewardship Institutes (originating from the University of Wisconsin Arboretum) beginning in 2014. Through this agreement, those teacher trainings are continued and expanded so they not only build educator capacity, but also translate into more structured programming delivered directly to students across multiple districts. The approach leans heavily on SCRA's established relationships with schools and local partners such as community organizations and informal educators, with NPS actively engaged in shaping goals and implementation.
The statement of work lays out clear deliverables for SCRA. SCRA must collaborate with NPS to define project goals and strategies, then provide three one-day teacher training sessions (or an equivalent alternative format) reaching at least 30 teachers from school districts near the Riverway. In addition to training educators, SCRA must coordinate "Rivers are Alive" programming for fourth graders in six school districts along the lower St. Croix River over the 2015 to 2017 school years, with the participating districts subject to NPS approval. SCRA is also responsible for practical coordination duties such as scheduling with NPS, providing logistical support to the participating districts, attending meetings and maintaining communication throughout planning and implementation, completing required trainings, and ensuring on-site supervision of any SCRA staff, interns, or volunteers involved in delivery.
NPS responsibilities are structured to reflect the cooperative nature of the award, meaning the agency is not simply providing funds but is substantially involved in execution. NPS will share existing education resources and materials (including curriculum guides and student materials), co-develop program goals and strategy with SCRA, and conduct training for SCRA staff, contractors, interns, and volunteers. NPS will also present information or facilitate sessions during teacher training events, assist with school programming as staffing allows, coordinate scheduling and communications, and provide access to NPS equipment, supplies, and materials that can strengthen trainings and school programs when those resources are available.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.954, categorized under education, environment, and natural resources. The opportunity anticipated a single award with a funding ceiling of $60,000. The public posting indicates it was created July 10, 2017, with an original closing date of July 28, 2017. While eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full notice, the narrative makes clear that the agreement is structured around the partnership with the St. Croix River Association as the recipient and implementation lead, working closely with NPS staff to deliver measurable increases in teacher participation and student programming tied directly to the Riverway.Apply for NPS NOIP15AC00903
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the education, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Coordinate Teacher Training and Education Programming with Local School Districts- SACN" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.954.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 10, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 28, 2017. (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 $60,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Coordinate Teacher Training and Education Programming with Local School Districts - SACN."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NPS NOIP15AC00903.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement under the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What type of funding mechanism is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
It is a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning NPS is expected to be substantially involved in carrying out the project (not simply providing funds).
What is the program focus of this cooperative agreement?
The project is designed to expand education and stewardship programming connected to the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway by strengthening school partnerships and delivering coordinated teacher training and student programming tied to water resources, watershed health, and the Riverway's natural and cultural significance.
Which landscape or park unit is the educational setting for this project?
The setting is the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (including the St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers), used as a hands-on classroom for nearby communities.
Why is the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway described as nationally significant?
It is described as a nationally significant landscape established under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 1968.
How large is the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway as described in the opportunity?
The Riverway is described as spanning 255 miles and encompassing roughly 92,749 acres within the authorized boundary.
Who manages the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway?
Management is described as shared across federal and state zones: NPS oversees the federal portion, while Minnesota and Wisconsin manage the lower 25 miles to the Mississippi River confluence.
Who is the nonprofit partner associated with this agreement?
The nonprofit partner is the St. Croix River Association (SCRA).
What role does the St. Croix River Association (SCRA) play in this opportunity?
SCRA is framed as the recipient and implementation lead, responsible for delivering specific education and coordination deliverables while collaborating closely with NPS to shape goals and implementation.
How is SCRA connected to the Riverway?
SCRA is described as a long-standing nonprofit focused on protecting, restoring, and celebrating the St. Croix River and its watershed, and it has served as the Riverway's Friends Group since 2011.
What student grade level is the primary target for programming?
The primary education target is fourth grade.
How does this project align with NPS initiatives for youth?
The fourth-grade focus is described as aligning with the NPS "Every Kid in a Park" initiative, which encourages meaningful park experiences for young students.
What teacher training work is being continued or expanded through this agreement?
The work builds on SCRA's teacher training leadership in the watershed, including its assumption (beginning in 2014) of the Earth Partnership for Schools Water Stewardship Institutes that originated from the University of Wisconsin Arboretum.
What are the required teacher training deliverables for SCRA?
SCRA must collaborate with NPS to define project goals and strategies and then provide three one-day teacher training sessions (or an equivalent alternative format) reaching at least 30 teachers from school districts near the Riverway.
How many teachers must be reached through the training sessions?
The training sessions must reach at least 30 teachers from school districts near the Riverway.
Are the teacher trainings required to be one-day sessions?
The deliverable is three one-day teacher training sessions, but the opportunity also allows for an equivalent alternative format.
What direct student programming is required under this agreement?
SCRA must coordinate "Rivers are Alive" programming for fourth graders in six school districts along the lower St. Croix River.
Over what time period will the fourth-grade programming take place?
The "Rivers are Alive" programming is to occur over the 2015 to 2017 school years, as described in the statement of work.
How many school districts are involved in the fourth-grade programming requirement?
The requirement is for six school districts along the lower St. Croix River.
Who approves which school districts participate?
The participating districts are subject to NPS approval.
What coordination and project management tasks are included in SCRA's responsibilities?
SCRA is responsible for scheduling with NPS, providing logistical support to participating districts, attending meetings and maintaining communication during planning and implementation, completing required trainings, and ensuring on-site supervision of any SCRA staff, interns, or volunteers involved.
What does NPS contribute as part of the cooperative agreement?
NPS will share education resources and materials (including curriculum guides and student materials), co-develop program goals and strategy with SCRA, provide training for SCRA staff/contractors/interns/volunteers, present information or facilitate sessions during teacher training events, assist with school programming as staffing allows, coordinate scheduling and communications, and provide access to NPS equipment/supplies/materials when available.
Is NPS expected to be actively involved in implementation?
Yes. The opportunity states that NPS responsibilities reflect the cooperative nature of the award, with substantial involvement in execution (for example, co-developing goals, supporting trainings, and assisting with programming as staffing allows).
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.954.
How is the opportunity categorized?
It is categorized under education, environment, and natural resources.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated a single award.
What is the funding ceiling for the award?
The funding ceiling is $60,000.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The public posting indicates it was created July 10, 2017, with an original closing date of July 28, 2017.
Who is eligible to apply, based on the notice details provided?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full notice. However, the narrative indicates the agreement is structured around a partnership with the St. Croix River Association (SCRA) as the recipient and implementation lead working closely with NPS.
What kinds of educational themes are emphasized in the programming?
The programming emphasizes connecting local learning to water resources, watershed health, river ecology, recreation, stewardship, and conservation challenges, along with the Riverway's natural and cultural significance.
What is the intended outcome of coordinating teacher training with student programming?
The intent is to build educator capacity through professional development and translate that into more structured, direct programming delivered to students across multiple districts near the Riverway.
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