Youth Sanctuary Advisory Council Application

National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council
Youth Seat Application Form
Before applying for sanctuary advisory council membership, please review:
1. Sanctuary advisory council charter provided in your application kit;
2. Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council
Implementation Handbook available online at
http://www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/management/ac/acref.html (or you may obtain a copy from your
local sanctuary).
3. Importance of Diversity Statement:
“Whether within a natural ecosystem or a human community, diversity creates strength and
resilience. NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries values the remarkable diversity of
knowledge, perspectives, and experience found throughout sanctuary communities, and invites a
wide range of individuals to seek membership on our sanctuary advisory councils. With a diverse
membership, advisory councils can broaden access to understanding and participation in marine
conservation and governance, foster innovation and creative problem solving, and can help
advance the mission of the National Marine Sanctuary System.”
Sanctuary advisory councils advise and make recommendations to the Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries on issues regarding the designation and management of national marine sanctuaries. The
charter outlines the purposes and governs the operation of the sanctuary advisory council. The
handbook provides broader operational requirements for sanctuary advisory councils. In applying for
sanctuary advisory council membership, you are agreeing to abide by the terms of the charter and the
handbook if you are selected as a youth council member or alternate. Also, please note that youth
seats are intended to engage high school students and, therefore, term limits for youth seats may be
further limited once a youth reaches his or her 18th birthday or graduates high school.
Applicants considered for selection, please note that the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will
conduct a LEXIS/NEXIS check and a departmental bureau check for potential conflict of interest and
other issues in your background.
Additional information and guidance regarding the use of the information you submit on this form
and its availability under federal law can be found at the end of this form. Please review this
information. Also, please note that the terms “youth” and “student” are interchangeable in this
application form.
Students filling the youth seat must:
●

Be between the ages of 14 and 17 when they apply, unless otherwise stated in the advisory
council charter for which you are applying;

●

Attend a school in an area associated with the sanctuary (including home schools or other
alternative high school options).

●

Have a proven ability to communicate and network with other students within their school,
in other schools within their community, or with home-schooled students and with adults;

●

Possess an interest in sanctuary resource protection and management;

●

Have experience or knowledge regarding public uses and activities in the sanctuary; and

●

Be able to travel to and attend council meetings and retreats (parent/guardian or student
provides transportation).

Once selected, [insert site] National Marine Sanctuary staff will contact students who will be
required to provide:
●

Parent/guardian permission;* and

●

School permission.*

* Note: This will grant blanket permission for all council meetings and retreats.
Procedure for Application:
Step 1: Please provide your contact information and respond to the questions below.
Step 2: Have a parent/guardian sign to acknowledge he/she is aware of and in support of your application.
Step 3: Have a teacher, mentor, or knowledgeable adult provide a letter of recommendation. Note, this is
encouraged but not required.
Step 4: The application deadline is [insert date]. Please return all pages of your completed sanctuary
advisory council youth seat application form, and any attached statements or documents, to [insert
local contact information]
Date: __________________
First Name*:__________ Middle: _________ Last: _________
*Please include full first, middle, and last names.

Position(s)/Seat(s) applying for:
[Insert Youth Seat (non-voting)]
[Insert Youth Seat Alternate (non-voting)]

Home Address
Address 1: ___________________________________________________________________
Address 2: ___________________________________________________________________
City: __________________________________ State: _______________ Zip Code: _______

Home Phone:
Student Cell Phone: ____________________
Student Email: ___________________________
Parent/Guardian Cell Phone: ___________________
Parent/Guardian Email: _________________________
Parent/Guardian Acknowledgement:
I acknowledge that I am aware of and support my child or ward applying for and
potentially serving on the [insert site] National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council.
Parent/Guardian Printed Name: ______________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: ______________________________
Date: ______________________
Please answer all of the questions below thoroughly and in numerical order. Answers should be no
more than two to three paragraphs and should appear on a separate attached document with each
answer clearly marked with the corresponding question number.
1. How did you learn about the opportunity to apply for this sanctuary advisory council
seat?
2. How familiar are you with the community or area associated with the sanctuary?
3. Are you willing to participate in sanctuary advisory council activities (e.g., meetings,
constituent outreach, retreats and reviewing written materials)? Please address whether it is
possible for you to miss a portion of or all of your classes and club or team activities to
attend a sanctuary advisory council meeting or retreat?
4. Why are you interested in serving on the sanctuary advisory council? Please include what
you hope to gain from participating on the sanctuary advisory council.

5. Describe what you think is the role of the council, and how you will work to best support
the sanctuary as a sanctuary advisory council member or alternate.
6. Explain how you will share information with your peers in the community, take action on
council-related issues, etc.
7. Describe what engaging underrepresented communities and including diverse perspectives
means to you and how you can encourage it in your community.
8. Explain your views regarding the protection and management of marine or Great Lake
resources, including natural (fish, coral reefs, etc.), historic and/or cultural resources.
9. Describe what knowledge and experience you can bring to the advisory council, which
may include, but is not limited to, other groups you belong to or affiliations you have
(e.g., student council, science club, soccer team, hiking club, scouts, employment). Be
sure to include qualifications that you have or relevant information that you think would
be beneficial to the council.

Individuals 18 years of age and older are not eligible to apply for the sanctuary advisory council’s
youth seat, but may apply for other council seats as they become open and are advertised.
Information obtained through this application process will be used to determine the qualifications
of the applicant for membership on the sanctuary advisory council. The Office of National Marine
Sanctuaries affirms it intends to disclose the applications only to Department of
Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration staff, including employees,
grantees, and contractors, with a need to know the information in the applications to complete the
application review process, and to current sanctuary advisory council members who serve on the
applicant review panel. However, the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries may be required to
disclose the applications in response to a court order, a congressional request, or a request from the
public under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
If disclosure is requested under FOIA, the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries will endeavor to
protect the privacy of applicants by withholding personal information, such as home addresses and
telephone numbers of applicants, as well as names or other identifying information of applicants
who are not chosen as members of the council. In contrast, other information may be released,
including names of applicants who are chosen as members of the council, other information in
chosen members’ applications that relate to their qualifications to be a member or alternate,
including education and professional experience, and statements of philosophy or opinions
contained in the application. Applying for membership on the sanctuary advisory council is
voluntary.
Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average one hour per
response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering
the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments
regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden to the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, 1305 East West

Highway, N/NMS, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any
person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays a
currently valid OMB Control Number.
OMB Control #0648-0397
Expires **/**/****