Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP18AC00302
Placed-based Learning on Floating Classrooms in Southern Lake Michigan Waterways - RTCA (Funding Opportunity Number NPS NOIP18AC00302) is a National Park Service cooperative agreement intended to support a very specific project rather than invite open competition. The notice explicitly states it is not a request for applications, meaning the agency is announcing an intended award arrangement instead of soliciting proposals from the public. The project is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and is tied to CFDA 15.954.
The core goal of the agreement is to establish a "Canoemobile Hub" and deliver floating classroom programming across Southern Lake Michigan, centered at or near Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (INDU), in partnership with Wilderness Inquiry, Inc. The programming is designed to bring people onto the water in a structured, educational setting, using canoes as the classroom platform. A major emphasis is expanding access for the general public, with particular attention to underserved communities, so that groups who may have fewer opportunities for outdoor learning and recreation can safely experience and learn from Lake Michigan and connected waterways.
Educational outcomes are central to the project. The floating classroom concept focuses on teaching participants about Great Lakes ecosystems, how natural systems function, and why stewardship matters. In addition to environmental literacy, the project places strong weight on water safety instruction and public health and safety training. The intent is that participants not only gain knowledge about natural resources, but also acquire practical skills and confidence to recreate safely, which can reduce risk and encourage long-term engagement with local rivers, lakes, and public lands.
Another key objective is partnership-building and community connection. By creating a Southern Lake Michigan Canoemobile Hub, the program is meant to continue developing collaborations on local rivers and lakes throughout the basin. These partnerships help bring programming into or near participants' own communities, increasing access to natural amenities and encouraging greater use of local public lands. The broader strategy is that early, positive exposure to waterways can spark ongoing involvement in outdoor recreation while building a base of informed stewards who value and support conservation of public resources.
Safety and equipment design are highlighted as essential to the program model. Wilderness Inquiry uses a proprietary canoe design that is built at its Minneapolis headquarters, engineered to be especially stable and therefore safer for public programming. That stability is presented as important for operating floating classrooms near INDU where participants may include first-time paddlers, youth groups, and others who benefit from a more secure on-water experience. The notice also notes that Wilderness Inquiry has already been successfully delivering water safety, environmental stewardship, and recreation programming for diverse communities in the Southern Lake Michigan basin for several years, positioning them as an experienced partner for the hub.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, the award is structured as a cooperative agreement (not a standard grant), which typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during project implementation. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $195,000, with one expected award. The notice was created on August 16, 2018, with an original closing date of August 26, 2018, reflecting the time window associated with the announcement even though it is not open for general application. Eligibility is broadly labeled as "Others" in the listing, but the narrative makes clear the agreement is intended to establish the hub with Wilderness Inquiry, Inc. as the partner.Apply for NPS NOIP18AC00302
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Placed-based Learning on Floating Classrooms in Southern Lake Michigan Waterays - RTCA" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.954.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 16, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 26, 2018. (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 $195,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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