Operate Environmental Education Center and Volunteer Program at CUVA

Post Date

December 21st 2011

Application Due Date

December 31st 2011

Funding Opportunity Number

DOI-NPS-CUVA-E12AC30069

CFDA Number(s)

15.944

Funding Instrument Type(s)

Cooperative Agreement

Funding Activity Categories

Education
Environment
Natural Resources

Number of Awards

1

Eligibility Categories

Other

Notice of Intent to Award without Competition - Continuation and Unique Qualifications: The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park has been a key operating partner of Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) since our first Agreement in 1988. Since the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center opened its doors in 1994, the Conservancy has expertly managed the operations of CVEEC in partnership with the NPS. In addition, the Conservancy raises funds each year so that children in urban schools in Cleveland and Akron, who otherwise could not afford to experience a residential environmental education program in a national park, have the opportunity to do so. The remainder of the 2011-2012 school year is already booked to capacity. The Conservancy has been instrumental in working with the park for the past 23 years to implement numerous interpretive and educational programs for children and adults, create unique special events, and enable the development a very successful Environmental Education Program. In addition, the Conservancy has two full-time staff who work collaboratively with the park’s Volunteer Program Manager. This team of three has grown the park’s Volunteer Program over the past two years by over 50% (to over 5,700 volunteers) and has developed a variety of new and creative opportunities for volunteers, allowing them to get involved and become park stewards/ambassadors. and 1) The Conservancy is a local non-profit organization based in the Cuyahoga Valley and has strong ties and long-standing, trusted relationships with the surrounding communities in the park. 2) The Conservancy owns Trail Mix, a small store located adjacent to the Towpath Trail, but outside of park boundaries. This store serves as a hub for park visitors to gather and as central location for park visitors to obtain information about the park and its programs. 3) The Conservancy also owns all of the furniture and appliances at the Stanford House, which is utilized mainly for Environmental Education programming purposes. 4) The existing volunteer base of 5,700+ people assist the organization with everything from hosting special events; to leading public programs in the areas of education, cultural arts, and nature; and removing invasive species, to name a few. These volunteers also include the Board of Trustees made up of 30 dedicated community leaders from the Cleveland and Akron areas. 5) The Conservancy actively fund-raises (approximately 50% of

Funding

• Estimated Total Funding:

  $2000000

• Award Range:

  $0 - $2000000

Grant Description

The purpose of the agreement is to continue the 23-year partnership that the NPS has had with Conservancy to work collaboratively to provide community involvement through high quality interpretive, educational, and cultural arts programming, as well as through a variety of unique and valuable volunteer opportunities, that ultimately help create a cadre of CVNP stewards who are informed and invested in the work of the national park. This agreement also allows for the continuation of a nationally recognized residential environmental education program in CVNP.

Contact Information

• Agency

  Department of the Interior

• Office:

  National Park Service

• Agency Contact:

  Tonya Bradley
  Contract Specialist
  Phone 402-661-1656

• Agency Mailing Address:

  email

• Agency Email Address:

  tonya_mcvay@nps.gov