1. Youth in the Great Outdoors

2. DOI Youth in the Great Outdoors (YGO) Office Mission: To provide Department-wide leadership, coordination, direction, and oversight regarding the promotion, use, and expansion of youth programs. Goals: engage, educate, and employ youth at the Department of the Interior (DOI). Strategies: Support Bureau’s Strategic Priorities, Facilitate Partnerships, Leverage Resources, and Expand/Enhance Programs Core Principles: Youth Development & Youth Innovation

3. YGO Office Roles Assistant Secretary Policy, Management & Budget Rhea Suh Lisa Young Director of Service Take Pride in America Office of Youth in the Great Outdoors Julie Rodriguez Director Administrative Officer Youth Coordinating Council Youth Task Force Jessica Wahl Youth Program Specialist Eugenie Bostrom Program Coordinator (SCEP Intern) Vacant Youth Program Analyst Vacant Youth Program Analyst Conservation and Educational Partnerships Task Force Conservation and Educational Partnerships Task Force Federal Interagency Task Force on Volunteerism Federal Interagency Task Force on Volunteerism Valerie Salentine Youth Program Specialist Gabe Horner Partnerships Program Analyst Nathaniel Hawley Deputy Director Maria Arnold Youth Program Analyst

4. U.S. FWS YGO Initiative Goals Goal 1: Employ youth to protect our communities and restore our environment. Goal 2: Educate youth about our lands, waters, wildlife, culture and heritage. Goal 3: Engage youth from all backgrounds, all walks of life.

5. USFWS YGO Initiative Roles DOI Youth Coordinating Council/Task Force (NCTC & Refuges) DOI Youth Coordinating Council/Task Force (NCTC & Refuges) Coordination: NCTC & Refuges FWS Directorate FWS Directorate Youth Coordination Team (YCT) Regions HQ Programs: ES, MB, FHC, PPS, HR, BPP YGO Committee Connecting People with Nature (CPWN)

6. U.S. FWS YGO Initiative Priorities Increase support for the Youth Initiative within FWS. Demonstrate worth, highlight progress, and increase the resource pool 1. Promote what FWS is doing Agency-wide to support YGO Initiative (Coordination) 2. Improve Communication both Internally and Externally (Coordination) 3. Improve Succession Planning: (Recruit, Retain & Grow) by Equipping Mgrs (Employ) 4. Increase Engagement and hiring of low participating groups to increase Diversity (Engage) 5. Promote use of existing or new nature based curriculum. (Educate)

7. DOI/U.S. FWS YGO Initiative Accomplishments

8. U.S. FWS YGO Initiative Accomplishments

9. Drew Burnett Interagency Coordination Division of Education Outreach National Conservation Training Center drew_burnett@fws.gov, 703-358-2606