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NOAA’s Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program
Updated May, 29 2009

2009 B-WET Funding Opportunity in New England, the Pacific Northwest, and the Gulf of Mexico is now closed. Click here for more information.

2008 B-WET Awards Announced!
Click here for Pacific Northwest press release
Click here for Gulf of Mexico press release
Click here for New England press release

About B-WET

NOAA B-WET is an environmental education program that promotes locally relevant, experiential learning in the K-12 environment. The primary delivery of B-WET is through competitive funding that promotes Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). Click here for a document that provides a detailed definition of MWEEs. In this context, a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience is one that:

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

NOAA recognizes that knowledge and commitment built from firsthand experience, especially in the context of one’s community and culture, is essential for achieving environmental stewardship. Carefully selected experiences driven by rigorous academic learning standards, engendering discovery and wonder, and nurturing a sense of community will further connect students with their watershed, help reinforce an ethic of responsible citizenship, and promote academic achievement. NOAA B-WET maintains relevance by responding to regional education and environmental priorities through local implementation. For examples of funded projects, see California, Chesapeake Bay, and Hawai'i program web sites, links here.

B-WET applicants are encouraged to partner with local NOAA entities. To locate potential NOAA partners in your area, click here.

B-WET Program Web Sites

California Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program
The California B-WET grant program is a competitively based program that supports existing environmental education programs, fosters the growth of new programs, and encourages the development of partnerships among environmental education programs throughout the San Francisco Bay, Monterey Bay, and Santa Barbara Channel watersheds. Projects support organizations that provide students meaningful  watershed educational experiences and teachers professional development opportunities in the area of environmental education related watersheds.

California B-WET program web site: http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/bwet/welcome.html
Program Coordinator:  Seaberry Nachbar, NOAA National Marine Sanctuary, 299 Foam Street, Monterey, CA 93940, or by phone at 831-647-4201, or via email at seaberry.nachbar@noaa.gov

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program
The Chesapeake B-WET grant program is a competitively based program that supports existing environmental education programs, fosters the growth of new programs, and encourages the development of partnerships among environmental education programs throughout the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed. Funded projects assist in meeting the Stewardship and Community Engagement goals of the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement. Projects chosen for award under this program support organizations that provide students meaningful watershed educational experiences and teachers related professional development opportunities related to the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Chesapeake B-WET program web site: http://chesapeakebay.noaa.gov/formaleducation.aspx
Program Coordinator:  Shannon Sprague, NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, 410 Severn Avenue, Suite 107A, Annapolis, MD 21403, or by phone at 410-267-5664, or via email at shannon.sprague@noaa.gov

Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Hawaii
B-WET Hawai'i continues to support learning opportunities to develop a population that is knowledgeable about the sustainability and stewardship of our island resources; and about earth science and to understand the role this knowledge plays in community resilience. Funding opportunities solicit proposals for grants to support NOAA's goal of developing a well-informed citizenry involved in decision-making that positively impact our coastal, marine and watershed ecosystems in the state of Hawaii. This opportunity is an annually awarded, competitively-based grant that provides initial funding to: 1) assist in the development of new programs; 2) encourage innovative partnerships among environmental education programs throughout Hawai'i; and 3) support geographically targeted programs to advance environmental education efforts that complement appropriate school requirements. Funded projects provide meaningful science-based outdoor experiences for K-12 students and professional development opportunities for teachers in the area of environmental education.

Hawai'i B-WET program web site:
http://www.csc.noaa.gov/psc/bwet.html
Program Coordinator:  Stephanie Bennett, Pacific Services Center, 737 Bishop Street, Suite 1550, Honolulu, HI 96817, or by phone at 808-522-7481, or via email at stephanie.bennett@noaa.gov