Our Assistance RTCA works collaboratively, by invitation, with partners on a wide variety of conservation and recreation projects.

These partners include nonprofit organizations, community groups, tribes or tribal governments, and local, State, or federal government agencies. RTCA provides a variety of assistance tailored to the partner’s needs, but does not provide direct grants. RTCA often acts as a catalyst to help assemble the necessary pieces to achieve on-the-ground conservation success.

RTCA helps identify what types of aid a partner needs and either supplies or locates sources for the assistance. RTCA helps partners navigate the planning process, converting ideas into actions, and often provides assistance in conceptual planning, organizational development and capacity building.

RTCA offers an outside perspective, encouragement and experience from a database of hundreds of projects and thousands of partners from around the nation. Projects are primarily focused on organization-building, planning and coordination for conservation and outdoor recreation.

In 2004, our partners protected more than 330 miles of rivers, created over 680 miles of trails, and conserved more than 22,700 acres of open space. By working side-by-side with grassroots groups and local governments in communities throughout the country, the National Park Service is building a nationwide system of parks, open spaces, rivers, and trails.