NOAA Gulf of Mexico Bay Watershed Education and Training (Gulf B-WET) Program

NOAA's B-WET program funds locally relevant, authentic experiential learning for K-12 audiences through Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences which are multi‐stage activities that include learning both outdoors and in the classroom and aim to increase understanding and stewardship of watersheds.

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NOAA's B-WET program funds locally relevant, authentic experiential learning for K-12 audiences through Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). 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.

Gulf B-WET funding is provided to support student investigation of environmental topics and issues, both locally and globally, that are of interest to them. Students identify actions to address these issues and understand the value of those actions, enabling them to help to protect and restore watersheds and related ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems. Gulf B-WET funding also supports, high quality professional development for teachers allowing them to gain confidence in the value of MWEEs and strategies for conducting MWEEs with students. Gulf B-WET also supports implementation of systemic MWEEs which reach the entire student population in one or more grades within a school district. In addition, and new for FY21, Gulf B-WET will support meaningful responses to the COVID-19 pandemic including creative and alternative approaches to watershed education, especially in marginalized groups, particularly students of color and students from low-income families, that are more likely to lose environmental education within their local school districts.

Gulf B-WET projects support the priority issues of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, a partnership of the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, with the goal of significantly increasing regional collaboration to enhance the ecological and economic health of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Gulf B-WET Program is one of seven B-WET regional programs across the country including California, Chesapeake Bay, Gulf of Mexico, Hawai'i, New England, Great Lakes and the Pacific Northwest. These seven programs make up the National NOAA B-WET Program.


    For Applicants

    For Grants Recipients

    Application Process

    Who Can Apply?

    Eligible applicants are K-12 public and independent schools and school systems, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, state or local government agencies, interstate agencies, and Indian tribal governments. 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 in Gulf of Mexico coastal counties. These are listed on page 48-49 of The Gulf of Mexico at a Glance: A Second Glance.

    How to Apply

    In late fall/early winter, the Gulf of Mexico B-WET Program publishes its Notice of Funding Opportunity via Grant.gov. The Notice of Funding Opportunity contains information needed to apply for a Gulf 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.

    To use Grants.gov, applicant must first complete the registration process with Grants.gov. This process can take two, or more, weeks. Detailed information on how to register can be found at the Grants.gov. Note that applicants must also be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) and must have a DUNS number. Please allow time to complete these registrations prior to the application due date.

    ** Please join one of the following informational webinars which will be offered to review B-WET, the new funding opportunity, and its priority areas.

    Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 12:30 pm CT/1:30 ET

     

    Monday, January 11, 2021 at 11 am CT/12 pm ET

    When to Apply

    Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time on February 26, 2021 to be considered for funding.

    Schedule

    Fiscal Year 2021

    December 8, 2020: Publication of Notice of Funding Opportunity

    February 26, 2021: Closing date for applications

    August 1, 2021: Earliest project start date

    Need Help?

    Amy Clark

    Education Coordinator
    Phone: (228) 688-1520
    Email: amy.clark@noaa.gov
    Fax: (228) 688-3142

    Last updated by Southeast Regional Office on 12/09/2020