State of Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Illinois Youth Recreation Corps – 2014 Grant Instructions & Application
Purpose: The Illinois Youth Recreation Corps was established for making grants to local
governments and not for profit entities to provide wages to youth operating and instructing
in recreational and conservation programs. Such programs shall provide conservation and
recreational opportunities, to include, but not be limited to, the coordination and teaching
of physical activities and learning activities directly related to natural resource
conservation management or recreation.
Applicants: Potential applicants include local governments and not for profits who can provide
necessary facilities, materials, and management staff for summer recreational and
conservation activities for youth within the community and who desire a grant for hiring
eligible youth as supervisors, instructors, instructional aides or maintenance personnel.
The grantee is responsible for complying with the terms and conditions of the Child Labor
Law (820 ILCS 205) and shall direct all questions to the Illinois Department of Labor.
Evaluation: Applications shall be evaluated based upon the conservation or recreational program
content, location, need, minority %, EAV amount, local commitment of resources, acres
managed by applicant and consistency with the purposes of the grant program.
Eligible Youth: Enrollment (hiring) is limited to US citizens of the State of Illinois who, at the time of
hiring, are between 14 and 18 years of age. Managing supervisors must be 19 years of age
or older, and who have skills that can be used in the summer recreation/conservation
programs. Current employees of the grantee are not eligible for inclusion in the program.
Term: The employment period for any youth hired is limited to no more than 60 working days
during the months of June, July and August. HIRING IS EFFECTIVE JUNE 1 OR THE
DAY OF GRANT AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT IF AFTER JUNE 1. The Illinois
Department of Natural Resources dictates wage amounts ($9/hour for youth or $12/hour
for supervisors for 2014 program), and hires shall work hours as required by the
recreational program but no more than eight (8) hours in a single day unless otherwise
approved by the Department of Natural Resources. Youth hired under this program who
later terminate such employment for any reason may be substituted by another eligible
youth for the remainder of the employment period. Only wages for eligible youth hired
pursuant to this program may be paid from funds received through this grant. Employer
payroll taxes are not eligible under this program.
Deadline: Eligible applicants interested in seeking a grant under the Illinois Youth Recreation Corps
must complete the application and submit it electronically to the Illinois Department of
Natural Resources by close of business April 14, 2014. Failure to submit a completed
application by the specified deadline will result in grant rejection for that grant cycle. To
submit an application please print out the blank application form, complete the form and
email it to dnr.grants@illinois.gov. The subject line must be in this format: <Your
Organization’s Name> 2014 Youth Grant Application.
Please note, all funds advanced that remain at the end of the grant agreement must be
returned to the Department by October 31, 2014.