FY2021-FY2022 NOAA New England Bay Watershed Education and Training (New England B-WET) Program

Funding Opportunity Description: NOAA's Bay Watershed Education and Training Program (B-WET) is an environmental education program that promotes place-based, locally relevant, experiential learning for kindergarten through grade 12 students and their classroom teachers and educators. Its signature methodology is Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs), which include multi-stage activities, in the classroom and outdoors, to increase environmental literacy of all participants. This Notice of Funding Opportunity addresses the unique need for innovative strategies to support K-12 outdoor environmental education within the context of a global pandemic and constrained educational resources.

New England B-WET is one of NOAA's seven (7) regional, outdoor environmental education programs. It promotes high quality environmental education for all, including underserved populations, fosters innovative programs, and encourages capacity-building and environmental education partnerships within the six New England States: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Successful projects advance ocean, climate, and other environmental literacy goals and incorporate the goals of the NOAA Education Strategic Plan through (1) K-12 student, hands-on environmental education in New England watersheds and (2) teacher/educator professional development and support during student MWEEs.

Each proposal submitted to this competition must address and identify one of the two priorities: (1) Backyard B-WET in a Pandemic and (2) Second Glance: Capacity Building for Sustainability. This Notice of Funding Opportunity includes information on the application process and evaluation criteria for proposals which may request up to $300,000 in total Federal funding for a maximum project period of three (3) years.

Grants resulting from this competition depend on the availability of annual Federal funding, as provided in enacted Appropriation Acts. Successful applicants are not guaranteed a specific level of funding. If funds are not available in FY2021, applications submitted in FY2021 may be carried over for consideration in FY2022 should funds become available then and if these applications remain relevant to New England B-WET priorities.