Natural Resource Stewardship Career Pathways Grants
Parks California is proud to launch the “Natural Resource Stewardship Career Pathways” Pilot Grant Program.
By working with community organizations and partners across California, we can help strengthen the state parks system to ensure that the parks are stewarded for generations to come. To meet the pressing challenges faced by our landscapes, we need more trained stewards, at all professional levels and across the state to implement climate resilient solutions. To grow and strengthen our workforce, we seek to increase access and broaden career pathways to reflect the rich diversity of California’s growing population. Bringing diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and Indigenous knowledge into landscape stewardship builds strength and resilience to the treasured places we share. Through this grant program, we seek to support and learn from natural resources training and career development programs across the state that also share our commitment to create opportunities for all in the environmental stewardship field.
Do you seek to broaden access, mentorship, and training to communities that have been traditionally underrepresented in the natural resource field? Does your organization provide practical professional experience and job training skills that lead to meaningful careers in natural resources? That offer exposure to the types of impactful jobs that support environmental stewardship of our state parks? You may be eligible for our Natural Resource Stewardship Career Pathways Pilot Grants program.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
For this first round of pilot funding, we are seeking proposals that address the following criteria:
- Provide job training skills, mentorship, and/or career exposure in the natural resources field
- Provide programming to participants from traditionally underrepresented communities
- Currently collaborate with California State Parks for natural resources training/workforce development program implementation
- Have active 2021 summer or fall program offering
- Show interest in participating in peer-exchange with other grantees and Parks California to share best practices and identify key barriers and opportunities for strengthening and building more pathways to natural resource careers in parks. Commitment includes participating in two 90-minute workshops in summer and fall 2021.
- Preference will be given to proposals that are also actively participating in regional landscape stewardship collaboratives or networks
Under this grant cycle, Parks California anticipates grant awards will average $20,000, with a maximum award amount of $30,000. Applicants should apply for projects that start May 1, 2021 with an intention of completion by January 31, 2022. Groups that are engaged in tribal partnerships are encouraged to apply.
APPLICANT RESOURCES
Webinar:
Parks California hosted a webinar on February 11, 2021 to discuss Natural Resource Stewardship Career Pathways Pilot Grants goals and address common questions regarding the application process. View the recording here.
Application Materials:
- For more information, download grant guidelines, FAQs, list of online application questions and required attachments
- To apply, submit online application and email required attachments to grants@parkscalifornia.org by 5:00 PM PST on March 12, 2021.
2021 GRANT CYCLE AND IMPORTANT DATES
| Grant Guidelines Released | Monday, February 1, 2021 |
| Informational Grant Proposal Webinar | Parks California hosted a webinar on February 11, 2021 to discuss Natural Resource Stewardship Career Pathways Pilot Grants goals and address common questions regarding the application process. View the recording here. |
| “Office Hours” | Staff will be available during “office hours” from 10am – 12pm to answer questions by phone on February 16 and 18, 2021. To schedule a 15-minute meeting during “office hours”, please email grants@parkscalifornia.org.
Meetings will be accepted and confirmed after the February 11 webinar. |
| Proposals Due | Friday, March 12, 2021 at 5pm PST |
| Grant Awardees Notified | Friday, April 2, 2021 |
| Grant Agreements Due | Friday April 16, 2021 |
| Grant Awards Received by Awardees | Friday April 30, 2021 |
| Grantee Welcome Call (1 hr) | TBD, May 2021 |
| Peer Exchange Workshop (1.5 hr): | TBD, August/September 2021 |
| Peer Exchange Workshop (1.5 hr): | TBD, October/November 2021 |
| Final Report Due | January 31, 2022 |