Impacts

The Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program has been a key driver for place-based education across the U.S. for over 20 years. The program reaches students and teachers through hands-on, inquiry-based learning focused on their local watersheds.

1028
B‑WET awards made between 2002‑2025 across 26 states and D.C.
$153M
total funding provided to the B‑WET program between 2002‑2025
489
institutions reached through B‑WET funding between 2002‑2025

B-WET has many impacts:

B-WET improves student learning

B-WET’s place-based, student-centered approach makes students more engaged in their learning and increases their scientific skills and interest in science careers.

B-WET strengthens teaching

B-WET provides effective professional development opportunities for teachers that increase their knowledge and confidence in teaching students about local watersheds.

B-WET inspires stewardship

By understanding their local watershed through B-WET programming, students are more likely to become involved in environmental stewardship activities within their community.

B-WET supports partners

B-WET funds partnerships between schools, local governments, and other organizations to improve the quality of their environmental education programs and advance NOAA’s mission.

For more information about research and evaluation that supports these impacts, please visit our National evaluation results webpage.

B-WET program impacts in fiscal year 2025

  • 120 institutions brought locally relevant, environmental learning to K-12 audiences, across 23 states and the District of Columbia.
  • More than 4,300 educators received professional development to help them teach real-world hands-on learning experiences set in the local environment.
  • More than 53,200 students participated in multi-stage, inquiry-based activities that include learning both in the classroom and outdoors.
  • 495 schools had students participate in B-WET programming. 

Watershed STEM Education Partnership program impacts

B-WET collaborates with the U.S. Department of Education to implement the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Watershed STEM Education Partnership program. Since 2017, B-WET has supported 59 grants engaging 167 local 21st CCLC sites. The partnership has reached over 7,500 students and 1,000 educators and staff at the 21st CCLC sites, supported by more than 250 science subject matter experts who engaged with students and introduced them to STEM topics and careers. These locally relevant, out-of-school-time projects developed students’ science and leadership skills as they improved their communities. 

For more information on this program, please visit NAAEE’s website.