2022 NOAA California Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program | NOAA NOS ONMS 2022 2007153

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS ONMS 2022 2007153

The 2022 NOAA California Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Commerce (NOAA) designed to support K-12 watershed and ocean education in California through hands-on, locally relevant learning. The program emphasizes Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs), which are structured learning sequences that blend classroom instruction with outdoor field experiences. A typical MWEE moves students through identifying or defining an environmental issue, participating in field investigations or outdoor learning in their local watershed, analyzing and synthesizing what they found, drawing conclusions, and then completing an action project that connects learning to real stewardship or community impact. The overall purpose is to deepen student understanding of the ocean and their local watersheds, build long-term stewardship habits, and strengthen awareness of special marine places such as national marine sanctuaries.

Projects funded under this opportunity are expected to align with major education and literacy frameworks used in California, including the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), the California Environmental Literacy Standards and Concepts, and the Ocean and Climate Literacy Essential Principles. In practical terms, that means proposals should show strong connections to science learning goals, environmental literacy outcomes, and ocean and climate understanding, while also demonstrating that students will be actively engaged in authentic investigations and meaningful follow-through actions rather than only receiving information passively. The program sits at the intersection of education, natural resources, and science and technology research and development, reflecting the dual focus on strong instructional design and real-world environmental context.

Funding is provided through grants and cooperative agreements. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $100,000, and NOAA anticipated making about 10 awards under this competition. Eligible applicants include a wide range of public and nonprofit organizations that commonly deliver education and environmental programming, including state governments; city or township governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). The opportunity was posted under Funding Opportunity Number NOAA NOS ONMS 2022 2007153, with a creation date of December 14, 2021, and an original application deadline of February 18, 2022. The associated CFDA number is 11.429.

In short, California B-WET is aimed at expanding and improving high-quality environmental education experiences for K-12 students by funding programs that get students outside, connect learning to local watershed and coastal issues, and culminate in student-driven actions that support stewardship and community benefit, all while meeting established science and environmental literacy standards.

• The Department of Commerce in the education, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2022 NOAA California Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.429.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 14, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 18, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, City or township governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for NOAA NOS ONMS 2022 2007153

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