2023 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 2023. 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!
Application Period: October 5 – November 18, 2022
Grants Awarded: November 25, 2022. Checks will be distributed in early 2023.
Please view the 2023 National Trails System Intern Grants Overview to learn more about who can apply, what the program requirements are, eligibility, and how to apply.
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. PNTS also updated the program goals to include:
- 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
- Arizona National Scenic Trail — Arizona Trail Association
- 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
- New England National Scenic Trail — Appalachian Mountain Club
- North Country National Scenic Trail — North Country Trail Association
- Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail — Back Country Horsemen of California
- 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
- Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) Historic Trail — qá ánin ‘ískit / Bitter Root Cultural Heritage Trust (BRCHT)
- 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 (National Historic Trails Foundation (NHTCF))
- Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail — The National Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association
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.
