Department of the Interior
Departmental Manual
Effective Date: 8/11/04
Series: Organization
Part 145: National Park Service
Chapter 9: Associate Director for Partnerships, Interpretation and Education, Volunteers, and Outdoor Recreation
Originating Office: National Park Service
145 DM 9
9.1 Associate Director for Partnerships, Interpretation and Education, Volunteers, and Outdoor Recreation. This Associate Director develops Servicewide policies and guidance and administers a range of statutorily established programs for interpretation and recreation resources nationwide. The Associate Director actively works with federal, state, local and private sector organizations to address the nation=s conservation and recreation needs and provides assurance that the interests of the Director and the Secretary are represented in relations with the National Park Foundation and supervises the superintendent of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
9.2 Partnership Office. The National Park Service Partnership Office encourages and develops national partnerships that support the NPS mission. It coordinates policies, procedures, and training to promote outreach and public involvement including not-for-profit and corporate philanthropic relationships. The office is responsible for implementing the strategic relationship between the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, as established by the Director.
9.3 Interpretation and Education Division. This division provides professional advice, technical direction and professional development for all National Park Service interpreters and interpretive programs. It develops interpretation and visitor services policies and procedures to increase the appreciation, understanding, and enjoyment by park visitors. It coordinates activities to develop effective and balanced interpretive and visitor service programs, and administers the Volunteers-in-Parks Program and Historic Weapons Demonstration Programs. It coordinates activities with cooperating associations to accomplish the interpretive program mission and is responsible for interpretation and education programs.
9.4 National Center for Recreation and Conservation. This center is responsible for recreation and conservation partnership programs, including the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance, Land and Water Conservation Fund state assistance, Urban Park and Recreation Recovery, Federal Lands to Parks, Wild and Scenic Rivers, hydropower relicensing, and long distance trails programs. It provides national leadership to address outdoor recreation needs.
A. National Recreation Programs Division. This division administers three programs that provide technical and/or financial assistance and transfers real property to States and local units of government; the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery, and the Federal Lands to Parks Program. It is responsible for the continued public recreation use and protection of the resources that have received financial assistance under these programs. It oversees the expenditure of funds in the Pinelands National Reserve.
B. National Designation Division. This division oversees the Hydro Recreation Assistance program, National Trails System components, and portions of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act implementation (the 17 rivers designated under Section 2(a)ii, the "partnership" Wild and Scenic Rivers designated under Section 3(a), and the Nationwide Rivers Inventory under Section 5(d)). It provides training and technical support for these programs, reviews plans and proposals, coordinates with and assists other agencies and national non-profit organizations in advocating for rivers and trails, and links designated rivers and trails to NPS planning and operations.
C. Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Division. This division develops and manages partnership-based activities to conserve rivers, green-ways, open space, and trails. These activities provide NPS presence and services in communities throughout the country. Field staffs undertake projects with local cooperators, offering technical assistance in resource and goal identification, organizational development, and use of creative conservation strategies. Cooperators include state and local governments, and nonprofit organizations.
9.5 Youth Programs. This office provides oversight, policy guidance and liaison to the Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers, Youth Conservation Corps, Public Lands Corps, Student Conservation Association, National Association of Service and Conservation Corps, and the Girl and Boy Scout programs associated with the National Park Service. These programs provide opportunities for the nation's youth to become aware of and participate in a variety of National Park Service programs and activities.
9.6 Tourism Office. The Office of Tourism provides overall direction and support for the National Park Service's tourism program. It serves as the liaison to the White House, the Department of State, and other government departments and agencies on tourism issues. It also serves as the primary point of contact for national and international travel and tourism industry officials and professionals.
9.7 Appalachian National Scenic Trail. This unit of the national park system comprises a greenway extending 2,100 miles along the mountainous regions of the eastern seaboard. In cooperation with the Appalachian Trail Conference, it is responsible for managing 110,000 acres of land acquired as part of a protected corridor for the Trail where it lies outside other protected public lands.