CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THEIR PUBLIC LANDS 2022

A

Connecting People to 

Their Public Lands 2022

BLM Education, Volunteers, and Youth Employment Activities
Volunteers participate in the annual

Clearwater River Clean-up in Idaho. 

Contents

National Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Education and Youth Engagement . . . . 2

- Greening STEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

- Junior Ranger Missions . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Youth Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Connecting People to 

Their Public Lands 2022

BLM Education, Volunteers, and Youth Employment Activities

The Bureau of Land Management’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and 

productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Connecting People to Their Public Lands 2022 is a publication of the Bureau of Land Management’s Division 

of Education, Cultural, and Paleontological Resources. This report highlights achievements occurring in fiscal 

year 2021. Design, layout, and editing services were provided by the Bureau of Land Management’s National 

Operations Center in Denver, CO.

The mention of company names, trade names, or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or 

recommendation for use by the federal government.

To obtain more information on the Bureau of Land Management’s public engagement programs, 

visit www.blm.gov/learn.

Cover photo by Wesley Trimble/American Hiking Society BLM/HQ/GI-22/006+1115
CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THEIR PUBLIC LANDS 2022

1

National Summary

Education, volunteers, and youth employment programs enable the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

to achieve its mission by offering ways for people of all ages to engage with public lands.

The BLM is fostering the next generation of responsible land stewards through education experiences 

and activities that ignite a spark of interest to learn more about natural and cultural resources. These 

experiences connect people with ways to discover and explore some of America’s most spectacular 

landscapes, historical and cultural sites, diverse wildlife, unique rock formations, native plants, and they 

build an appreciation for an ownership of public lands. Volunteers help the BLM to complete unfunded 

work that otherwise would not be accomplished. The BLM works hand-in-hand with communities to 

engage people of all ages and backgrounds in meaningful and mutually beneficial service on their 

public lands. The BLM uses several youth employment programs, such as the Public Lands Corps (PLC). 

These service corps organizations provide a cost-effective way to accomplish mission-critical work 

through partnerships. 

As the BLM entered a second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency provided a broader range of 

programs throughout the country. Local BLM offices were required to follow constantly changing local 

government guidelines, which lead to inconsistent programming. Some states were allowed to resume 

school fieldtrips while others were not; federal government guidelines reduced the BLM’s ability to hold 

large gatherings, which impacted educational events and volunteer days; and routine COVID-19 testing 

delayed youth corps members’ work days. For these reasons, there were inconsistencies in program 

and participant numbers. Through all these challenges, many BLM offices were able to adapt and find 

creative ways to continue offering education, volunteers, and youth employment programs. 

The BLM recognizes that these programs are human-centered programs. People have an amazing 

capacity to affect change on public lands. Functioning ecosystems can be undone by new invasive 

species, human-caused wildfires, and recreational impacts. The education, volunteers, and youth 

employment programs have proven to be effective at creating an informed knowledgeable stewardship, 

gaining public trust, supporting conservation, and achieving legal mandates. 
CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THEIR PUBLIC LANDS 2022

2

Education and Youth Engagement: Partnerships 

and Technology Expand BLM Programs

The BLM’s education programs are as diverse as the lands the agency manages. This diversity is reflected 

in the way field offices design and implement programs that meet land management goals and support 

community needs. The BLM’s National Office supports education programs through partnerships 

with national organizations that are implemented at the local level. Partnerships are instrumental in 

accomplishing the agency’s work. For every dollar the BLM spends on education programs, a partner 

spends 46 cents. In 2021, the BLM used these funds to successfully launch and expand two nationally 

supported programs, Greening STEM and Junior Ranger Missions. 

Greening STEM

The BLM has partnered with 

the National Environmental 

Education Foundation (NEEF) to provide 

opportunities and funding for Greening STEM 

projects on BLM lands. The Greening STEM 

approach is an adaptable framework that 

can be used to address education standards 

and real-world problems. Greening STEM 

promotes partnerships where formal and informal 

educators can collaborate to design, develop, and 

co-deliver standards-based STEM activities. 

Through these projects, the BLM and NEEF seek 

to advance mutual STEM education goals by 

providing program participants with access 

to authentic STEM experiences that use the 

environment and the agency’s unique mission as 

a context for engagement. BLM Greening STEM 

projects use STEM-focused content, instructional 

strategies, training approaches, collaboration, and 

technology to assist school educators and BLM staff 

in implementing and enhancing learning in and 

outside of the classroom, with a primary focus on 

BLM-related subject matter. 

In May of 2021, NEEF partnered with the BLM and 

the Colorado Canyon Association for a Greening 

STEM demonstration project at McInnis Canyons 

National Conservation Area. This project provided 

a hands-on, experiential program to students 

who learned about the impact of invasive species, 

specifically Russian knapweed, on the riparian 

corridor of the Colorado River. As part of the 

project, students recorded data on invasive species 

density and reported data to the BLM. They also 

learned about the viability of biological control 

methods, such as introducing Russian knapweed 

gall wasps in an area infested with Russian 

knapweed.

The BLM continues to collaborate with NEEF to build 

the capacity of BLM field sites, using components of 

NEEF’s Greening STEM model to design and deliver 

enriching hands-on programming. Additional 

funding is planned to issue grants for the 2021–2022 

and 2022–2023 academic school years. 

Highschool students enjoy the Colorado River on a 

Greening STEM project in McInnis Canyons National 

Conservation Area.
CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THEIR PUBLIC LANDS 2022

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Junior Ranger Missions

The BLM continues to seek new ways 

to engage young people and their 

families with enhanced recreation and visitor 

experiences and to provide activities that promote 

learning and a shared conservation stewardship. To 

connect today’s youth with their public lands and 

nurture the next generation of public land stewards, 

the BLM is working to incorporate new technologies 

into education and engagement programming.

The BLM’s Junior Ranger Missions uses the Agents 

of Discovery mobile gaming application to expand 

and diversify educational programming and create 

new ways to learn and play outside. By using 

the technology from the Agents of Discovery 

platform, BLM sites create interactive, locationbased “missions” that are full of challenges to 

Programs and Participants by Topic

Wilderness/National 

Conservation Lands

765

Programs

16,663

Participants

Recreation

1,660

Programs

31,040

Participants

Cultural/Historical/

Paleontology

1,669

Programs

30,806

Participants

Biological 

Resources

1,689

Programs

32,396

Participants

Other

Programs

1,524

Programs

27,753

Participants

Some education and engagement programs covered more than one topic. In these instances, participants were counted for each 

relevant program topic. Therefore, the total number of participants in this table will appear greater than the actual total. 

1,114 26,554 1,714 32,554

K–12 Education K–12 Education Youth Engagement Youth Engagement

Programs Participants Programs Participants

engage youth and families with their public lands. 

This allows the BLM to pair a technology with 

the devices kids are already using to facilitate an 

immersive learning experience outdoors. 

To continue to grow this approach, in 2021, the 

Division of Education, Cultural, and Paleontological 

Resources supported the initiation of seven new 

Agents of Discovery licenses, greatly expanding the 

number of Junior Ranger Missions locations and 

the reach of the program. Currently, there are 20 

locations across the BLM where visitors can find this 

interactive technology. As the program continues 

to grow, the BLM will work to create “National 

Missions” that can be played at home, at schools, 

and on public lands, encouraging the public to 

engage with BLM lands near and far. 

Education and Youth Engagement

Value 

BLM Annual Work Plan (not salary) $893,715

BLM Budget Proposal Submission Projects $257,972

Partner Funded $538,848

Outside Grant Funded $383,642
CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THEIR PUBLIC LANDS 2022

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Volunteers: Performing Work 

Essential to the BLM’s Mission

The BLM Volunteer Program is an essential component of the BLM 

mission, cultivating community-based conservation, public-centered 

stewardship, and partnerships through public service. Volunteers 

enable the BLM to complete unfunded work that otherwise would not 

be accomplished. The BLM works hand-in-hand with communities and 

partners to engage people of all ages and backgrounds in meaningful 

and mutually beneficial service on their public lands. 

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act directs the 

BLM to recruit volunteers and use funding to support 

and facilitate BLM-administered activities. Volunteers 

contribute time, services, and skills benefitting all BLM 

program areas. These include environmental conservation, 

recreation, education, interpretation, cultural and 

historical site management, wilderness and wilderness study areas, 

and the wild horse and burro program. In 2021, volunteers continued 

their support of critical BLM functions and services, even while facing 

the challenges and restrictions resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 

pandemic. Nearly 12,500 volunteers donated 525,000 hours to the BLM 

in 2021 (the equivalent of 292 work years), resulting in a cost savings of 

over $15 million to the agency. 

For the American public, the rewards of volunteering with the BLM 

include opportunities to learn new skills and to meet interesting, 

dedicated, and highly motivated people. Volunteer recruitment and 

retention is coordinated by local bureau field offices, and through the 

Volunteer.gov web portal. This portal offers volunteer opportunities from 

multiple federal agencies across the country. 

The annual Making a Difference National Volunteer Awards allows 

the BLM to recognize volunteer contributions in multiple categories, 

acknowledging achievements by outstanding individuals and groups. In 

2021, the BLM honored seven outstanding volunteers. Fittingly, during 

the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held live via Zoom. BLM Deputy 

Director for Policy and Programs, Nada Wolff Culver, and Principal 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, Laura 

Daniel-Davis, offered heartfelt remarks to personally thank award 

winners and all BLM volunteers. State and local leadership presented the 

awards in California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Wyoming. 

National Public Lands Day, held on the last Saturday in September, is 

another key volunteer program initiative. Annually, more than 90 BLM 

field offices host thousands of volunteers at events in observance of 

this national celebration. The BLM is the leading federal partner for this 

national service day.

Two volunteers aid in the removal 

of graffiti at a National Public Lands 

Day event in California.

The 2021 BLM Making a Difference 

volunteer award winner Sandy 

Hayden participates in invasive 

species removal at Yaquina Head 

Outstanding Natural Area.

BLM volunteers participate in 

a National Public Lands Day 

maintenance project at Bradfield 

Bridge campground in Colorado.
CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THEIR PUBLIC LANDS 2022

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Volunteers

Hours Worked and Value of Work by Program Area

Recreation

258,738

Total Hours

$7,384,383

Value of Work

Biological Resources/

Riparian Resources

60,220

Total Hours

$1,718,679

Value of Work

Cultural/Historical/

Paleontology

32,587

Total Hours

$930,033

Value of Work

Wilderness

10,352

Total Hours

$295,446

Value of Work

Wild Horse and Burro

71,137

Total Hours

$2,030,250

Value of Work

Education/Interpretation

24,645

Total Hours

$703,368

Value of Work

Other

(Includes Cadastral, Minerals, 

Support Services, etc.)

68,267

Total Hours

$1,948,340

Value of Work

Total 525,946 $15,010,499

Total Hours Value of Work

A BLM volunteer assists with a 

boundary marking project.
CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THEIR PUBLIC LANDS 2022

6

Youth Employment: Amid a 

Pandemic, Youth Corps Continue 

to Develop Conservation 

Leaders of Tomorrow 

The BLM understands that the health and productivity of public lands 

depends on people who are informed and willing to assist in protecting 

and restoring America’s natural and cultural legacy. As the agency 

entrusted to protect 10% of lands in the United States, the BLM must 

nurture and train the next generation of young people to conserve 

public lands. Youth employment programs are essential to engage 

people in work on behalf of the American public. These programs help 

foster meaningful connections between people and their public lands, 

expand human understanding of the BLM’s complex multiple-use 

mission, and inspire conservation stewardship and service.

For more than 30 years, nonprofit conservation organizations have 

partnered with the BLM to help support its mission and engage the next 

generation of public land stewards. These partnerships have involved 

tens of thousands of participants as crew members and interns with 

youth service corps organizations. 

The BLM supports a vibrant program that engages youth in public 

lands stewardship ethics and builds a future federal workforce. This is 

accomplished by emphasizing the Public Land Corps (PLC). The PLC 

program works with qualified youth and conservation/service corps 

to provide opportunities and education for young adults in natural 

and cultural resource professions. The PLC hiring authority offers 

opportunities to attract and launch the next generation of conservation 

leaders. It is often associated with engaging youth in project-based work 

experiences, and these hands-on experiences often lead to entry-level 

careers with federal land management agencies. Many youth corps 

organizations have been offering undergraduate and graduate students 

the same opportunity to participate in the PLC program in recent years. 

Emerging youth corps professionals often bring scarce technical skills 

(geographic information systems, engineering, web-design) to the 

sponsoring agency. The PLC Initiative also provides opportunities 

for veterans to develop skills in a variety of public land management 

disciplines such as wildland fire or landscape restoration, while the BLM 

benefits from their military experience and work ethic. 

As Covid-19 impacted the world, the BLM PLC program was not immune 

to the pandemic. Youth service corps organizations were confronted 

with challenging decisions about how they would operate during this 

The Southwest Conservation Corps’ 

Ancestral Lands youth crew assisted 

a professional stabilization crew at a 

prehistoric masonry pueblo at Lowry 

Pueblo National Historic Landmark.

Southwest Youth Conservation 

Corps members work in the Menefee 

Mountain Wilderness Study area 

(WSA) and Weber Fire burn scar, 

using backpack sprayers to treat 

noxious weeds.

The Midland Hills Trail, managed 

by the Royal Gorge Field Office, 

received much-needed maintenance 

by Southwest Conservation Corps 

to support the increased recreation 

visitation.
CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THEIR PUBLIC LANDS 2022

7

Work Crews

1,101

Paid Internships

75

Research Technicians

18

Not Reported

8

PLC and CCC Youth Hires by Program Area 

Recreation

288

Cultural/Historical/

Paleontology

36 

Biological Resources

480 

Wilderness

12

Other

386

Total Number of Youth Hiring Projects Reported 93

Total Number of Hours Worked for Youth Hires 783,284 

Total Number of Youth Hires 1,202

difficult period. Many corps across the country were forced to 

reassess their operations or halt operations altogether. 

During this time, the BLM-partnering conservation corps continued 

work on projects such as enhancing wildlife habitat, maintaining 

trails, reestablishing campgrounds, and other tasks. The BLM 

had 850 corps participants in fiscal year 2021, and these corps 

participants completed work on 123 projects that equaled 236,581 

hours worked. The success of the PLC program is attributed not 

only to the Department of Interior’s priority of modernizing the 

workforce, but also to its goal of expanding the participation of 

diverse audiences in public lands conservation and stewardship. 

Initiatives like these are instrumental in bringing communities 

together, educating the public about protection, and addressing 

public land issues through a community-led effort.

Youth Employment

Youth hiring data combines the Public Lands Corps (PLC) and Civilian Climate Corps (CCC) programs. The 

term “hire” is defined as a corps member that has dedicated 80 or more hours on a project.

PLC and CCC Youth Hires by Type