Engage New Audiences through Place-based Programming and C | NPS 18 NERO 0196

Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS 18 NERO 0196

The grant opportunity titled "Engage New Audiences through Place-based Programming" (Funding Opportunity Number NPS 18 NERO 0196) is a National Park Service notice stating its intent to make an award through an existing cooperative framework, rather than an open competition. The key point is that this announcement is not a request for applications. Instead, it serves as public notice that the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS) plans to award a task agreement under a master cooperative agreement that was already competed (or otherwise justified as single-source). The expected outcome is one award, with a funding ceiling of $125,000, categorized as a discretionary cooperative agreement within the education activity area (CFDA 15.954). Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), and in practice the work is tied to the pre-existing partnership described in the notice.

The project is grounded in Master Cooperative Agreement P13AC01138 between the NPS and the USS Constitution Museum (USSCM). The purpose of that master agreement is to coordinate efforts in the Charlestown Navy Yard so visitors have a stronger, more seamless experience and become more aware of educational opportunities offered by both partners. This effort is not starting from scratch; it builds on a prior multi-year partnership framework developed under an earlier cooperative agreement (P13AC01108) involving the USS Constitution Museum and Boston National Historical Park. In other words, the NPS is continuing an established collaboration model, using partners who already have defined roles, shared goals, and operational history working together in Boston-area park and heritage sites.

The work described in the opportunity is organized into two connected project areas. The first area focuses on education and youth engagement through "Activate 21st century learning through Boston's Place-based Teaching and Learning Collaborative." Under this track, the NPS and USSCM plan to jointly administer activities and combine staff expertise and resources to involve the Collaborative in designing, testing, evaluating, and delivering place-based programs. A major component is professional development for educators, aimed at building an active community of practice around place-based teaching and learning. This professional development is intended to use iconic locations connected to the National Parks of Boston and additional partner sites, giving teachers practical tools and shared methods for using local history and park resources in curriculum-aligned ways.

Another major education deliverable is increasing Boston youth access to field experiences tied to historically and culturally significant locations, specifically sites along Boston's Trails to Freedom and on the Harbor Islands. The emphasis is on structured learning experiences rather than casual visits, positioning these outings as curriculum-based field experiences that connect classroom learning to real places. Complementing these experiences, the project also includes developing and beta-testing an online trip planning tool designed for teachers. The intent is to make it easier for educators to discover available programs and book curriculum-aligned field trips for student groups, reducing logistical barriers and helping schools more consistently incorporate park and partner sites into instruction.

The second project area centers on strengthening visitor engagement in the Charlestown Navy Yard by putting into practice findings from the 2018 Charlestown Navy Yard Visitor Experience Study. This includes prototyping and evaluating "creative placemaking" approaches and other visitor engagement recommendations identified in that study. The goal is to test ideas in real conditions, learn what works, and use evaluation results to refine the approaches over time. Finally, the project calls for sharing information about Charlestown Navy Yard visitor engagement activities through web and social media channels, suggesting an additional focus on outreach and awareness-building so that on-site improvements and programming are reinforced by consistent public-facing communication.

Taken together, the opportunity is essentially a continuation and expansion of an established NPS-USS Constitution Museum partnership. It aims to reach new audiences through two parallel strategies: first, by strengthening place-based education infrastructure for teachers and youth across Boston-area sites; and second, by improving how the Charlestown Navy Yard welcomes, guides, and engages visitors using research-based recommendations and ongoing public communication. The funding and structure reflect a cooperative effort where both the NPS and the museum partner are actively involved in planning and implementation, rather than a typical open grant competition seeking new applicants.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Engage New Audiences through Place-based Programming and C" 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 Sep 05, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 14, 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 $125,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for NPS 18 NERO 0196

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