Santa Fe Trail NextGen Council

Santa Fe Trail NextGen Council logo Designed by Tatiana Palenske

The Santa Fe Trail often conjures images of adventurous traders conquering the challenges of trail travel to profit from trade. Yet, the story of the trail is much bigger. Understanding the full story requires an examination of what is not said, whose stories are not told, and what aspects have been amplified over others. Historically, the stories of certain groups of people have not been as prevalent as that of the Euro-American trader finding financial gains on the trail. As part of the 200th anniversary of the Santa Fe Trail, we are reflecting upon the silences, mistellings, and overshadowing of historically excluded groups. The Santa Fe Trail Next Generation (NextGen) Council will play an important role in this reflection by making recommendations for telling a fuller story and expanding interest in the Santa Fe National Historic Trail (NHT).

The NextGen Council is a 7-month virtual volunteer program beginning March 22, 2021 and ending late October 2021. Through the program, Council members will gain professional experiences, learn about NPS career opportunities and the federal job application process, and complete a professional project. Council members will work as a team to develop an analysis and make recommendations for diversifying public engagement with the Santa Fe NHT. At the end of the program, Council members will present their findings to representatives of the National Trails Office- Regions 6, 7, 8 and Santa Fe Trail Association (an NPS non-profit partner).

Application Process

The National Trails Office welcomes applicants ages 18-28 with a variety of academic and professional backgrounds. The position is especially applicable to people with an interest in history, heritage, National Parks, trails, parks and recreation, and JEDIA (justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility). Members may be able to negotiate course credit with their university, but the NPS cannot guarantee university participation.

To apply, visit the listing on volunteer.gov. There, you will be asked to provide information about your education, past volunteer experiences, the name of one academic or professional reference, and why you want to participate in the Santa Fe Trail NextGen Council. Applications are due March 1, 2021.

Learn More

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Santa Fe National Historic Trail

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