NOAA's B-WET program fosters the growth of new, innovative programs and encourages capacity-building and environmental education partnerships by funding locally relevant, authentic experiential learning for K-12 audiences through Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). A MWEE is a learner-centered framework that focuses on investigations into local environmental issues that leads to informed action. MWEEs are multi‐stage activities that include learning both outdoors and in the classroom and aim to increase understanding and stewardship of watersheds and related ocean, coastal, riverine, estuarine, and Great Lakes ecosystems.
New England B-WET
New England B-WET focuses on the priorities and challenges facing New England environments. 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 action projects, students and teachers can become knowledgeable stewards of their local environment. B-WET facilitates teacher professional development so these experiences can be integrated into curriculums and meet state learning standards.
Since it began in 2008, 54 projects (some spanning multiple states) have been funded across all 6 New England States totaling about $9 million in awards. New England B-WET recognizes the unique cultural, economic, and environmental issues New England communities face and seeks to set annual priorities that will assist in meeting local environmental education needs using the MWEE framework.
The most successful New England B-WET projects are those that conclude with student/teacher stewardship actions and lead to the empowerment of teachers to implement long-term integration of MWEEs into a school’s curriculum. New England B-WET also strongly supports the development of community-based partnerships working directly with students and teachers, that lead with equity
For a list of our current and past grantees, click here.
Current Funding Opportunity
OPEN: The 2024 funding opportunity will be open from October 24, 2024 until 11:59PM (ET) February 20, 2024. Visit the funding page for more information.
Resources for Current Grantees
