NOFO: New England Bay Watershed Education and Training Program (US)

Deadline: 15-Feb-23

The National Marine Fisheries Service Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) is seeking proposals under the New England Bay Watershed Education and Training (New England B-WET) Program, an environmental education program that promotes locally relevant, experiential learning, and outdoor investigations integrated into formal classroom learning, from kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12).

New England B-WET is an environmental education program that funds locally relevant, authentic experiential learning for K-12 audiences through Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences in New England states.

The FY23 New England B-WET funding announcement focuses on projects combining long-term, classroom-integrated MWEEs for students and teacher professional development. 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.

This New England B-WET funding announcement emphasizes their strong commitment to expanding the participation of marginalized communities in watershed education and is interested in projects that partner specifically with organizations and institutions that serve marginalized groups, including minority communities. And, it suggests that the MWEE framework can contribute to fostering an understanding of how watersheds are connected to coastal and offshore Atlantic fisheries and protected species stewardship, as well as contribute to climate change and resilience education that support climate solutions. 

Program Priorities

• Proposals must address the following priority: Projects combining long-term, classroom-integrated Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) through teacher professional development and student experiences. NOAA’s New England B-WET program seeks proposals for projects that support high quality teacher professional development for classroom-integrated Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). Projects must include the development of teacher-led student outdoor experiences, learning, and stewardship actions that connect students to their local watershed
  • Teacher Professional Development
    • Professional development for teachers, coupled with MWEEs for students that are fully supported by their teachers in the classroom, will help concepts of watershed education be reinforced throughout the school year. Teachers should be trained to rely extensively on hands-on, inquiry-based experiential teaching and learning that allows students to draw on multiple disciplines and provides genuine, locally relevant sources of knowledge that can be used to help advance student learning skills across the entire school curriculum.
  • Student Experiences
    • All applications should demonstrate a connection to the Gulf of Maine or Atlantic Ocean through a local watershed system so that students understand how their actions, even if inland, are connected to the health of the marine ecosystem. B-WET funded projects should include more than 5 hours of student activity time spent outdoors and incorporate at least one measurable stewardship action situated in places where students live, grow, and play. Student MWEEs led by the applicant and partners should serve as part of the teacher's professional development and training for how to successfully implement a MWEE.

Funding Information

• Estimated Total Program Funding: $1,500,000
• Award Ceiling: $300,000
• Award Floor: $50,000

Duration: The project start date should not begin before August 1, 2023. The period of award must be 2 years (24 months).

Eligibility Criteria

• 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. However, for-profit and foreign organizations and foreign public entities may participate with an eligible applicant as a project partner. Likewise, Federal agencies are not allowed to receive funds under this announcement but may serve as collaborative project partners and may contribute services in kind.
• Applicants may be physically located in any U.S. state; however, education projects must target teachers and/or students located in any part of the six New England States: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island or Connecticut.
• The Department of Commerce/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is committed to broadening the participation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges and universities, and institutions that work in underserved areas. New England B-WET encourages applications from, or applications involving, any of the categories of institutions. 

For more information, visit GARFO.