QLF is the principal partner of the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) Stewardship Institute, which supports NPS leaders in driving organizational change through collaboration, engagement, leadership development, and research.

Since 2019, QLF and the Institute have been pivotal in helping the NPS and its partners develop and implement a strategic plan aimed at revitalizing and expanding the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network.

This 20-year-old network connects diverse sites, including natural, cultural, historical, and recreational areas, trails, museums, parks, refuges and interpretive centers, all dedicated to preserving and promoting the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. These sites act as gateways, offering visitors and residents opportunities to explore, learn, and contribute to conservation of  the Chesapeake Bay.

The strategic plan sets out an ambitious, five-year vision to broaden efforts beyond Chesapeake Bay to the larger watershed. It aims to engage and serve a diverse range of communitie, including historically underserved populations, by offering more inclusive experiences and telling the full story of the region’s history.