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Information about B-WET regional programs and competitions.

B-WET funding is provided through competitive grants that promote Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). The B-WET program offers regional funding opportunities through local NOAA host offices. Regional funding opportunities are generally published in late summer or fall each year.

B-WET currently serves seven regions in the country. This regional approach allows B-WET to provide tailored grantee support and capacity building, as well as include place-based STEM resources and expertise and respond to local education and environmental priorities.

Who can apply for B-WET grants?

  • K-12 public and independent schools and school systems 
  • Institutions of higher education
  • Nonprofit organizations 
  • State or local government agencies
  • Interstate agencies
  • Indian tribal governments

Please see regional funding opportunities for specific competition information.

What types of projects does B-WET fund?

  • Student investigations of local environmental issues
  • Professional development for teachers
  • Support to get MWEEs implemented throughout an entire school district or school

Please see regional funding opportunities for specific competition information.

Regional programs and funding opportunities

Students with 7 Tepees prepare for a field investigation.

California

Funding opportunity: The 2023 California B-WET funding opportunity for building capacity for implementing climate literacy in classrooms is now open.

The full fiscal year 2023 funding opportunity can be found on Grants.gov under funding opportunity number NOAA-NOS-ONMS-2023-2007548. Visit the California B-WET webpage for more information. This webpage includes examples of budget narratives, logic models, and project timelines for California B-WET applicants.

Deadline: February 23, 2023
Areas served: the California counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Fresno, Humboldt, Lake, Kern, Kings, Madera, Marin, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Trinity, Tulare, Ventura.
Contact: Seaberry Nachbar, NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries, 831-647-4201, seaberry.nachbar@noaa.gov
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Maryland Environmental Literacy Partnership summer institute participants in the field.

Chesapeake Bay

Funding opportunity: The 2023 Chesapeake B-WET Funding Opportunity for School District Programming is open.

The full fiscal year 2023 funding opportunity can be found on Grants.gov under grant opportunity number NOAA-NMFS-HCPO-2023-2007599. Please see the funding opportunity for all application details. This webpage includes resources needed to apply for a Chesapeake B-WET grant.

Deadline: February 10, 2023
Informational Webinars: November 21, 2022 at 1:00 PM EST and November 30, 2022 at 11:00 AM EST.
Areas served: Chesapeake Bay watershed, including Maryland, the District of Columbia, and parts of Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Contact: Elise Trelegan, NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, 410-226-1015, elise.trelegan@noaa.gov

Funding opportunity: The 2023 Chesapeake B-WET Funding Opportunity for Regional Environmental Literacy Capacity Building is open. 

The full fiscal year 2023 funding opportunity can be found at Grants.gov under grant opportunity number NOAA-NMFS-HCPO-2023-2007600. Please see the funding opportunity for all application details. This webpage includes resources needed to apply for a Chesapeake B-WET grant.

Deadline: February 10, 2023
Informational Webinars: November 21, 2022 at 1:00 PM EST and November 30, 2022 at 11:00 AM EST.
Areas served: States within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Contact: Elise Trelegan, NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, 410-226-1015, elise.trelegan@noaa.gov

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Exploring Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Great Lakes

Funding opportunity: The 2023 Great Lakes B-WET funding opportunity for indigenous communities is now open.

The full fiscal year 2023 funding opportunity can be found on Grants.gov under federal opportunity number NOAA-NOS-ONMS-2023-2007760. Please see the funding opportunity for all application details. This webpage includes resources that may be helpful in developing a Great Lakes B-WET application.

Deadline: March 1, 2023
Informational webinars: January 9, 2023, 1:00-2:00pm EST, January 10, 2023, 10:00-11:00am EST, January 18, 2023, 3:00-4:00pm EST, and January 19, 2023, 2:00-3:00pm EST. Join during time of webinar with this link.
Areas served: New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
Contact: Sarah Waters, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, 989-884-6204, sarah.a.waters@noaa.gov
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Students taking part in a field experience with the Science and Discovery Center of Northwest Florida.

Gulf of Mexico

Funding opportunity: The 2023 Gulf of Mexico B-WET funding opportunity is closed.  

The full fiscal year 2023 funding opportunity can be found on Grants.gov under funding opportunity number NOAA-NMFS-SE-2023-2007673. Visit the Gulf B-WET webpage for more information.

Deadline: January 27, 2023
Informational Webinars: November 8 from 10-11AM CT /11AM-12PM EST and December 1 from 2-3PM CT/3-4PM EST.
Areas served: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida
Contact: Amy Clark, NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office, 228-688-1520, amy.clark@noaa.gov
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Taro field experience with Pacific American Foundation's NALU Studies project.

Hawaii

Funding opportunity: The 2023 Hawaii B-WET Funding Opportunity is now open. 

The full fiscal year 2023 funding opportunity can be found on Grants.gov under funding opportunity number NOAA-NOS-OCM-2023-2007573. Please see the funding opportunity for all application details.

Deadline: January 31, 2023
Informational Webinars: Thursday, November 10, 2022 from 10:00 to 11:00 am HST; Wednesday, November 16, 2022 from 12:00 to 1:00pm HST; and Tuesday, December 6, 2022 from 1:00 to 2:00pm HST.
Areas served: Hawaii
Contact: Māhealani Bambico, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, mahealani.bambico@noaa.gov 
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Students with Education Connection's Project Periphyton explore their local watershed.

New England

Funding opportunity: The 2023 New England B-WET funding opportunity is now open.

The full fiscal year 2023 funding opportunity can be found on Grants.gov under Opportunity Number NOAA-NMFS-GARFO-2023-2007744. Please see the funding opportunity for all application details.

Deadline: February 15, 2023
Informational Webinars: Tuesday, January 10, 2023 from 11:00am- 12pm EST and Monday, January 16, 2023 from 3:00-4:00pm EST. Please join the webinars at the Google Meet Video call links listed for each. 
Areas served: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island
Contact: Allison Rosner, Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 978-282-8462, allison.rosner@noaa.gov
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Students formulating their hypothesis during a stream exploration field trip with Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association's Students for Salmon project.

Pacific Northwest

Funding opportunity: The 2023 Pacific Northwest B-WET funding opportunity is now open.

The full fiscal year 2023 funding opportunity can be found on Grants.gov under funding opportunity number NOAA-NOS-ONMS-2023-2007704. Visit the Pacific Northwest B-WET webpage for more information.

Deadline: February 7, 2023
Informational Webinars: Thursday, December 22 from 3:00pm - 4:15pm PT.
Areas served: Oregon and Washington
Contact: Jacqueline Laverdure, NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, 360-406-2084, jacqueline.laverdure@noaa.gov
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Applicant resources

The resources below may help you prepare to submit an application for B-WET grant funding. Some regions offer grant writing workshops for prospective applicants or provide templates and example proposals. See the regional website links above or contact the regional program manager for more information.

  • Implicit Bias in Program Development virtual session on January 19, 2023 at 3:00pm EST
    • B-WET invites interested applicants to attend a virtual session focusing on implicit bias as it relates to program development. The session will introduce the basic concepts of unconscious biases, provide an opportunity for participants to identify instances of implicit bias in curriculum, and touch on community and partner engagement efforts. A recording will also be made available, please register for more information. 
  • Climate Change Education with NOAA B-WET webinar recording: This informational presentation provided by Frank Niepold from the NOAA Climate Program Office will highlight ways to incorporate climate change education into NOAA B-WET projects, provide examples of current and past grantees that have successfully implemented this topic, and share NOAA resources focused on climate change. The MWEE educational framework can directly foster climate knowledge, skills, and competencies to address climate change and create opportunities to contribute to climate solutions in participants' own communities. The webinar occurred on Wednesday, January 12th, from 3-4:30pm ET.
  • Grants Dos and Don'ts handout, poster. and presentation: Guidance from NOAA’s Office of Education on how to write and submit grant applications.
  • NOAA in your backyard: B-WET applicants are encouraged to partner with local NOAA offices and programs. This resource may help you locate potential NOAA partners in your area.

For general questions about the B-WET program, contact the B-WET National Coordinator: Bronwen Rice, NOAA Office of Education, 202-482-6797, bronwen.rice@noaa.gov.