Understanding and Appreciation of Natural Sounds/Night Skies through Youth Initiatives Based on Science, Service, and Recreation | P20AS00015

Opportunity Information: Apply for P20AS00015

The National Park Service (Department of the Interior) offered this discretionary funding opportunity as a cooperative agreement to support a youth-focused program centered on protecting and appreciating natural sounds and night skies in national parks. The project is designed to bring approximately 20 young people into a park-based educational and recreational setting where they can learn about soundscapes and dark skies through hands-on science and engineering concepts, paired with practical “best practices” for reducing human-caused noise and light impacts. Alongside the technical learning, the program is meant to build familiarity with national parks as welcoming places for recreation, discovery, and stewardship.

A major emphasis of the opportunity is improving access for non-traditional and underserved visitors, particularly youth who may not have visited parks due to financial constraints, lack of exposure, or perceived barriers tied to disabilities such as physical, hearing, or visual impairments. In that sense, recreation is not treated as an add-on, but as a pathway for engagement: the program uses outdoor experiences to help participants develop a deeper understanding of national parks and other public lands, while also building confidence and a sense of belonging in these spaces.

The funded work is expected to blend learning with service. Participants would not only study issues affecting soundscapes and night skies, but also apply what they learn through activities that can measurably benefit park resources and visitor experiences. The opportunity specifically highlights service actions aimed at noise and light reduction, which could include projects that support quieter environments and darker night conditions, ultimately improving both resource protection and the quality of visitor experiences. Another program expectation is that the project will share knowledge or tools that help parks protect their values and resources over time, suggesting a focus on practical outcomes rather than purely classroom-style education.

The stated outcomes make the intent clear: first, increased recreational access for youth who are less likely to participate in park experiences; second, the application of best practices that improve conditions for both resources and visitors; third, direct improvements to natural soundscapes and night skies through on-the-ground service efforts focused on reducing noise and light; and fourth, increased relevancy of national parks, meaning stronger connections between parks and communities that have historically been underrepresented among park visitors. The opportunity also notes an interest in leveraging funding through cost-sharing, signaling that proposals are encouraged to bring partner resources or matching contributions to expand impact.

Administratively, the opportunity was listed as “Understanding and Appreciation of Natural Sounds/Night Skies through Youth Initiatives Based on Science, Service, and Recreation” under funding opportunity number P20AS00015, with an activity focus spanning education, natural resources, and science and technology/research and development (CFDA 15.931). Eligible applicants included a wide range of public and nonprofit entities: state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and state-controlled colleges and universities; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; and 501(c)(3) nonprofits (excluding institutions of higher education in that specific nonprofit category). The posting date was December 11, 2019, with an original closing date of January 30, 2020. Funding was structured as a single expected award with an award ceiling of $300,000.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the education, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Understanding and Appreciation of Natural Sounds/Night Skies through Youth Initiatives Based on Science, Service, and Recreation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.931.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 11, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 30, 2020. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

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