2024 Intern Grant Program Overview:
The Partnership for the National Trails System (PNTS)—in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and U.S. Forest Service—will offer National Trails System Intern Grants of up to $10,000 to Federal agency partners, PNTS nonprofit trail organizations, and affiliate members in 2024. These grants are intended to help organizations offset the costs of paid internships, provide a pathway for young adult involvement with National Trails, and advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within the National Trails System.
National Trail System Intern Grants are intended to:
- Provide short term capacity for a specific project or pilot program on a National Trail that will strengthen the organizations and agencies that administer and manage the National Scenic and Historic trails;
- Act as a catalyst to enable the organizations and agencies that manage National Trails to obtain additional funding through grants or other donors;
- Align with administrative priorities, including advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility on National Trails;
- Provide a pathway for young adults to become involved with National Historic and Scenic Trails;
- Enable young adults to explore potential careers options with government and nonprofit groups supporting the National Trails System;
- Provide young adults experience working with trail professionals; and,
- Encourage innovation and creativity that will elevate the National Trails System!
2024 Grants:
The Partnership for the National Trails System, in collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and U.S. Forest Service, is pleased to announce grant recipients for their 2024 National Trails System Intern Grants. The Intern Grants create opportunities for young adults to become involved, or further their involvement, with our national trails while strengthening the capacity of the organizations and agencies that administer and manage the national scenic and historic trails.
Twelve grants totaling $95,000 were awarded in 2024. These grants will be matched with over $168,700 of in-kind contributions and over $89,700 in both partner non-Federal cash funds and other Federal funds.
- Provide short-term capacity for a specific project or pilot program on a National Trail that will strengthen the organizations and agencies that administer and manage the National Scenic and Historic trails;
- Act as a catalyst to enable the organizations and agencies that manage National Trails to obtain additional funding through grants or other donors;
- Align with administrative priorities, including advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility on National Trails;
- Encourage innovation and creativity that will elevate the National Trails System!
Congratulations to the following 2023 grantees:
Scenic Trails
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail — Appalachian Trail Conservancy
- Arizona National Scenic Trail, Appalachian National Scenic Trail, North Country National Scenic Trail — American Hiking Society
- Continental Divide National Scenic Trail — Continental Divide Trail Coalition
- Florida National Scenic Trail — Florida Trail Association
- Ice Age National Scenic Trail — Ice Age Trail Alliance
- North Country National Scenic Trail — Superior Hiking Trail Association
- Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail — Pacific Crest Trail Association
Historic Trails
- El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail — El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail Association
- Old Spanish National Historic Trail — Spanish Colonial Research Center, University of New Mexico
- Oregon and California National Historic Trails — Oregon-California Trails Association
- Oregon, Mormon, California, and Pony Express National Historic Trails — BLM’s National Historic Trails Interpretive Center
- Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail — The National Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association
Special Thanks:
We would like to extend a special thanks to our partners at the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and U.S. Forest Service for making these grants possible.
2023 Grants:
Thirteen grants totaling $125,000 were awarded in 2023. These grants will be matched with over $174,000 of in-kind contributions and over $217,300 in both partner non-Federal cash funds and other Federal funds. View the full press release here.
2022 Grants:
Thirteen grants totaling $100,000 were awarded in 2022. These grants will be matched with over $172,000 of in-kind contributions and over $178,300 in both partner non-Federal cash funds and other Federal funds. View the full press release here.
2021 Grants:
Fourteen grants totaling $129,990 were awarded in 2021. View the full press release here.
2020 Grants:
Thirteen grants totaling $129,899 were awarded in 2020. View the full press release here.