Description
The National Park Service intends to award a single-source cooperative agreement to the Children and Nature Network to create a new and innovative Natural Families plan for engaging community partners and minority families in national parks. The project aims to identify barriers and create strategies for low-income and minority families to engage with nature in the National Capital Region, implement a regional strategy for engaging partners and community-based organizations, support the launch of a new model for engaging low-income and minority families in nature, and create resources to build awareness and skills for leaders to facilitate family-based nature experiences. The project will involve a task agreement under a previously competed or single-source master cooperative agreement. Some key activities include mapping nature access disparities, conducting one-on-one meetings with community organizations, and providing stipends, training, and technical assistance to community-based organizations.
• The project will focus on the National Capital Region, which includes Washington, DC, and sections of Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia.
• The project aims to reach low-income and minority families and engage them in nature-based activities.
• The project will involve partnerships with community-based organizations and the National Park Service.
• The project will include a training workshop for community-based leaders and the creation of a Natural Families Toolkit.
• The project will be evaluated based on its ability to increase participation in national parks and improve the public's understanding of natural, cultural, historic, recreational, and other areas.