About
NOAA's Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program is an environmental education program that promotes place-based experiential learning for K–12 students and related professional development for teachers. B-WET fosters the growth of new, innovative programs and encourages capacity-building and environmental education partnerships.
New England B-WET focuses on the priorities and challenges facing New England watersheds by helping students and teachers apply scientific methods and tools to understand and appreciate their local watershed system. B-WET encourages students to become more interested in science, technology, engineering, and math. By focusing on watersheds where they live and by participating in personally relevant stewardship projects, students and teachers can become knowledgeable stewards of their local environment.
FY24 New England B-WET Funding Opportunity
For FY24, B-WET New England has two priorities:
Priority 1: Projects combining long-term, classroom-integrated Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences (MWEEs) for students and teacher professional development.
- Proposals may request between $25,000 to $100,000 in total Federal funding for a project period of two years.
- Projects must include the development of teacher-led student outdoor experiences, learning, and stewardship actions that connect students to their local watershed.
Priority 2: Capacity building for K-12 environmental literacy at the state and local level.
- Proposals may request between $75,000 to $150,000 in total Federal funding for a project period of three years.
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Projects funded under this priority will focus on building capacity and structures within schools for long-term environmental education and literacy programming at the state and local levels.
B-WET applicants may be physically located in any U.S. state; however, projects must target students and teachers in the New England region. For the purposes of this solicitation, the New England region includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
For Applicants
Application Process
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants are K-12 public and independent schools and school systems; institutions of higher education; community-based and non-profit organizations; state, county, local, or Indian tribal government agencies; and regional organizations. Individuals, federal agencies, for-profit organizations, foreign organizations, and foreign public entities are NOT eligible to apply. Federal employees can serve as uncompensated partners in a project. If you wish to partner with a NOAA employee, in your application you must provide a written agreement documenting the participation, including details of the NOAA employee’s involvement, signed by his or her supervisor. While applicants do not need to be located in New England, the work proposed must occur within this geographical region. NOAA is committed to broadening the participation of historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and institutions that work in communities that have historically and systemically faced barriers to accessing outdoor education and NOAA resources. New England B-WET encourages applications from, or applications involving, any of the above categories of institutions.
How to Apply
The Notice of Funding Opportunity contains information needed to apply for a B-WET grant and includes information to assist applicants in aligning their project proposal to current program priorities. Applicants should read and follow the Notice of Funding Opportunity carefully.
Applicants are required to apply online through Grants.gov. IMPORTANT: Use of Grants.gov requires an advanced registration process that may take a few days or several weeks. In addition, when developing your submission timelines, keep in mind it may take Grants.gov up to two business days to validate or reject a submitted application.
To view the full funding announcement including priorities, requirements, and evaluation criteria visit the “Related Documents” and download the PDF.
When to Apply
This funding opportunity will open on October 24, 2023. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM, ET on February 20, 2024 through the Grants.gov system.
Please be advised: Use of Grants.gov requires an advanced registration process that may take a few days or several weeks. In addition, when developing your submission timelines, keep in mind it may take Grants.gov up to two business days to validate or reject a submitted application. Due to limited staffing of federal offices, hardcopy applications will not be accepted. The Notice of Funding Opportunity provides specific details on this process so please read the full document carefully.
Schedule
Informational Webinars
Informational webinars about the FY 2024 New England B-WET funding announcement will be held on the following dates:
- Monday, November 13, 2023 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET. Click here to join this Google Meet (meet.google.com/gun-kzar-pzv)
- Monday, December 11, 2023 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET. Click here to join this Google Meet (meet.google.com/uub-rsdx-jyq)
- Monday, January 8, 2024 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. ET. Click here to join this Google Meet (meet.google.com/qgw-kwip-hyx).
Please use the Google Meet links next to each date to join the webinars.
Can't make these dates? View the informational session presentation and notes here.
Need Help?
Allison Rosner
Last updated by Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office on 10/01/2024