Notice of Intent: Colorado Plateau Dark Skies Cooperative Coordinator Internship | P17AS00041

Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00041

The Notice of Intent titled "Colorado Plateau Dark Skies Cooperative Coordinator Internship" (Funding Opportunity Number P17AS00041) is a National Park Service funding opportunity under the U.S. Department of the Interior focused on natural resources and night sky conservation across the Colorado Plateau region. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the agency expects to stay actively involved in the work as it is carried out rather than simply providing funds and stepping back. The purpose is to support a coordinator intern position that helps move forward the mission and priorities of the Colorado Plateau Dark Skies Cooperative (CPDSC) by strengthening partnerships, expanding public engagement, and advancing practical actions that reduce light pollution and protect dark night skies.

The central role funded by this opportunity is a coordinator intern who serves as a connector across many different kinds of organizations and communities. The intern is expected to build and enhance collaboration among local communities, municipal planning organizations, advocacy groups, natural history associations, intergovernmental internship programs, dark sky study centers, and land managers. In practice, that means helping align efforts that are often scattered across jurisdictions and institutions, creating smoother communication between stakeholders, and encouraging coordinated planning and shared projects related to night sky protection and responsible outdoor lighting.

A major part of the internship is outreach and education. The intern would promote night sky-related activities, help organize and support astronomy and stargazing events, and engage the public through citizen outreach efforts. The description emphasizes reaching diverse audiences, which suggests the work is not limited to a niche astronomy community but is intended to connect with residents, educators, visitors, and community groups with different interests and backgrounds. The intern is also expected to distribute information to educators, supporting classroom and informal learning opportunities that connect dark skies to science, nature, culture, and stewardship.

On the implementation side, the internship includes hands-on support for community lighting improvements. The intern would assist with community lighting projects, including retrofits and the development or improvement of lighting ordinances designed to reduce light pollution. This can involve encouraging the use of shielded fixtures, warmer color temperatures, and lighting levels that meet safety needs without unnecessary glare or skyglow. The intern would also provide community outreach support to parks and other protected lands across the Plateau, reinforcing the idea that dark sky conservation is both a community issue and a protected-lands management priority.

The public benefit described in the opportunity is broad. These activities are expected to benefit local citizens and potential visitors throughout the Colorado Plateau region and beyond by improving opportunities to experience natural night skies, strengthening stewardship ethics, and increasing understanding of why dark skies matter. The opportunity also frames dark sky conservation as more than aesthetics: it is tied to natural and scientific values, cultural and historic connections to the night sky, and education and interpretation goals that parks and partners can share with the public.

In terms of management and guidance, the intern would work toward these goals with content support and advising from the Intermountain Region (IMR) Natural Sounds and Night Skies Coordinator, input from the former CPDSC Coordinator, and supervision provided by the University of Utah (UUT). This setup indicates a blend of practical mentorship from experienced dark skies program leadership and formal oversight from an academic partner institution, with the cooperative agreement model supporting ongoing collaboration between the recipient and the National Park Service.

Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary and falls under CFDA 15.945. Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, signaling that the funding is intended to flow through an eligible university or similar institution that can host, supervise, and administer the internship. The expected number of awards is one, with an award ceiling of $66,200, indicating a single coordinated effort rather than multiple smaller grants. The notice was created on December 19, 2016, with an original closing date of December 27, 2016, suggesting it was a time-sensitive announcement intended to move quickly to establish or continue coordination capacity for CPDSC work.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent: Colorado Plateau Dark Skies Cooperative Coordinator Internship" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 19, 2016.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 27, 2016. (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 $66,200.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for P17AS00041

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