NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training Program

The NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program offers competitive grants to support existing environmental education programs, foster the growth of new programs, and encourage development of partnerships among environmental education programs within watershed systems. The criteria for these awards emphasize Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs): sustained, hands-on, environmental activities that are aligned with academic learning standards.

These experiential opportunities are intended to supplement and enrich the traditional formal learning environment, and target both teachers and students in K-12. Rigorous evaluation has shown that B-WET activities increase teachers' confidence, ability, and intention to employ MWEE techniques with their students. Student experiences in turn have been shown to increase intention to take action to improve the watershed, and have the potential to increase academic achievement in science.

Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs)

NOAA B-WET is an environmental education program that promotes locally relevant, experiential learning for K-12 school students. B-WET administers a competitive funding process that promotes Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences that

• are investigative or project oriented
• are an integral part of the instructional program
• are part of a sustained activity
• considers the watershed as a system
• are enhanced by NOAA products, services, or personnel, where appropriate

B-WET in the Great Lakes Region
The Bay Watershed and Education Program (B-WET) is an environmental education program that promotes locally relevant, experiential learning for K-12 school students and teachers. Through NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, the Great Lakes B-WET program offers competitive grants to support existing environmental education programs that focus on the K-12 audience, fosters the growth of new watershed education programs, and encourages the development of partnerships among environmental education programs across the Great Lakes watershed. Projects funded through B-WET are aimed at promoting “Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences.”
The initial call for proposals was published late summer 2011 with funding provided through EPA’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.  The environmental education community in the region responded enthusiastically, with over 40 proposals going through the review process.   Of these, 12 proposals were awarded funding, embarking on one-year projects beginning in July 2012. Total funding amounted to $875,000 in awards between $22,000 and $124,000.

See the FY-12 B-WET awardees here

By centering on Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences, all Great Lakes B-WET projects have sustained, hands-on environmental activities that are aligned with state-wide academic learning standards. Both students and teachers incorporate watershed stewardship practice in the classroom, out in the field, and in other arenas of education. To achieve the goal of leaving the Great Lakes better for the next generation, B-WET projects also align with the goals, strategies and principles of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan and the Great Lakes Literacy Principles.

View FY12 Full Grant Funding Announcement

FY13 Great Lakes B-WET Competition

The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries would like to announce the FY13 Great Lakes B-WET Competition.  Notice of this Federal Funding Opportunity was published September, 17, 2012.  Please apply via Grants.gov for funding opportunity NOAA-NOS-NMS-2013-2003449  (click apply now button to right) Applications are due via Grants.gov Friday, November 2, 2012 for projects beginning July 1, 2013 for a duration of one year. 

For additional information on the current B-WET grant opportunity, please contact:

Contact Information:
Cathy Green
B-WET Great Lakes Program Manager
500 W. Fletcher St., Alpena, MI 49707
Cathy.green@noaa.gov or 989-356-8805 ext.10