Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00536
The Canal Classrooms Education Program Support opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P17AS00536) is a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior to strengthen education and outreach connected to the C&O Canal and national parks as learning environments. It is classified as a discretionary funding action under the Employment, Labor and Training activity category (CFDA 15.945). The program is designed to expand access to park-based educational experiences, especially for students who are least likely to have those opportunities due to financial and resource barriers.
The core purpose is to broaden education outreach to diverse and underserved audiences, with an emphasis on Title I student populations. A major component is a Transportation Scholarship program intended to reduce or remove the cost of getting students to the park or related learning sites. In practice, this aims to address one of the most common obstacles schools face when trying to participate in field-based learning: funding for buses and travel logistics. By focusing on transportation support, the program seeks to make park experiences realistically accessible to schools and communities that otherwise may not be able to participate.
A second major goal is professional development for educators. The opportunity calls for engaging five or more school teachers in the NPS Professional Development program, emphasizing mutual benefit: teachers gain knowledge, tools, and confidence to use park resources in their instruction, while the park benefits from educator input, stronger school partnerships, and better alignment between park education offerings and classroom needs. This teacher engagement element signals an intent to build longer-term capacity rather than limiting impact to one-time field trips, creating a multiplier effect when trained teachers bring park-connected content back to their classrooms year after year.
The third goal is to improve technology resources available to teachers and students by developing a technology-based curriculum program. This indicates the project is expected to produce or enhance digital learning tools or technology-enabled curriculum materials that can be used before, during, or after park visits, and potentially even when a visit is not possible. Technology-based curriculum development can include digital lesson plans, interactive media, online modules, or other classroom-ready resources that connect to the park and the C&O Canal, supporting broader reach beyond the students who physically visit the site.
The fourth goal is to encourage teachers to explore and actively use national parks as outdoor classrooms and to help students make meaningful connections to the C&O Canal. The scale described is significant: the effort is framed around reaching more than 10,000 school-aged children, indicating a large audience impact goal that likely depends on both direct experiences (such as field visits supported by transportation scholarships) and indirect reach through teacher training and technology-based curriculum resources that can be used across multiple classes and schools.
In terms of funding and award structure, the announcement lists an award ceiling of $40,000 and anticipates one award. The eligible applicant category is limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally implies ongoing collaboration and substantial involvement by the NPS in the project’s implementation compared to a standard grant.
Finally, the notice explicitly states that it is not a request for applications. Instead, it serves as public notice of the NPS intention to fund the project activities without competition. The posting includes a creation date of July 25, 2017 and an original closing date of August 5, 2017, but because the agency indicates it will make a non-competitive award, the practical takeaway is that this announcement is informational rather than an open solicitation for new applicants.Apply for P17AS00536
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Canal Classrooms Education Program Support" 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 Jul 25, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 05, 2017 This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service (NPS), intention to fund the project activities without competition.. (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 $40,000.00 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Canal Classrooms Education Program Support opportunity?
It is a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior to strengthen education and outreach connected to the C&O Canal and national parks as learning environments.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P17AS00536.
Which agency is offering this funding?
The opportunity is issued by the National Park Service (NPS) under the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What type of funding action is this?
It is classified as a discretionary funding action.
What is the activity category and CFDA number listed?
The activity category is Employment, Labor and Training, and the CFDA number listed is 15.945.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is designed to expand access to park-based educational experiences, especially for students who are least likely to have those opportunities due to financial and resource barriers.
Who is the program intended to serve?
The program emphasizes reaching diverse and underserved audiences, with an emphasis on Title I student populations.
What are the core goals or components described in the announcement?
The announcement describes four major goals: (1) expand education outreach to diverse and underserved audiences with an emphasis on Title I populations; (2) operate or support a Transportation Scholarship program to reduce or remove the cost of getting students to the park or related learning sites; (3) provide professional development for educators by engaging five or more teachers in the NPS Professional Development program; and (4) improve technology resources by developing a technology-based curriculum program and encouraging use of national parks as outdoor classrooms while helping students connect to the C&O Canal.
What is the Transportation Scholarship program and why is it included?
The Transportation Scholarship program is intended to reduce or remove the cost of getting students to the park or related learning sites. The announcement highlights transportation (such as buses and travel logistics) as a common barrier that prevents schools from participating in field-based learning.
What does the announcement say about educator professional development?
It calls for engaging five or more school teachers in the NPS Professional Development program. The intent is mutual benefit: teachers gain knowledge, tools, and confidence to use park resources in instruction, and the park benefits from educator input, stronger school partnerships, and better alignment between park education offerings and classroom needs.
Why is teacher engagement emphasized?
The teacher engagement element signals an intent to build longer-term capacity rather than limiting impact to one-time field trips, creating a multiplier effect when trained teachers bring park-connected content back to their classrooms year after year.
What is meant by a technology-based curriculum program?
The project is expected to produce or enhance digital learning tools or technology-enabled curriculum materials that can be used before, during, or after park visits, and potentially even when a visit is not possible. Examples described in the announcement include digital lesson plans, interactive media, online modules, or other classroom-ready resources that connect to the park and the C&O Canal.
How many students is this effort expected to reach?
The announcement frames the effort around reaching more than 10,000 school-aged children.
How does the announcement suggest reaching that scale?
The scale likely depends on both direct experiences (such as field visits supported by transportation scholarships) and indirect reach through teacher training and technology-based curriculum resources that can be used across multiple classes and schools.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed is $40,000.
How many awards does the announcement anticipate making?
The announcement anticipates one award.
Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.
What funding instrument will be used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
As described in the announcement, a cooperative agreement generally implies ongoing collaboration and substantial involvement by the NPS in the project implementation compared to a standard grant.
Is this an open, competitive opportunity for new applicants?
No. The notice explicitly states it is not a request for applications. It serves as public notice of the NPS intention to fund the project activities without competition.
What is the practical takeaway if it is not a request for applications?
Because the agency indicates it will make a non-competitive award, the announcement is informational rather than an open solicitation for new applicants.
What are the key dates listed on the posting?
The posting includes a creation date of July 25, 2017 and an original closing date of August 5, 2017.
Does the closing date indicate a standard application deadline?
The announcement notes a closing date, but it also states the agency intends to make a non-competitive award and that it is not a request for applications, so the practical implication is that it is not an open application deadline for new applicants.
What park and place-based focus is referenced?
The opportunity focuses on education and outreach connected to the C&O Canal and national parks as learning environments, and it emphasizes helping students make meaningful connections to the C&O Canal.
What is the overall educational approach promoted by the program?
The program promotes the use of national parks as outdoor classrooms and supports both in-person, park-based learning (with transportation support) and broader classroom learning through teacher professional development and technology-based curriculum resources.
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