The NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program offers competitive grants to support existing environmental education programs, foster the growth of new programs, and encourage development of partnerships among environmental education programs within watershed systems. The criteria for these awards emphasize Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs): sustained, hands-on, environmental activities that are aligned with academic learning standards.
These experiential opportunities are intended to supplement and enrich the traditional formal learning environment, and target both teachers and students in K-12. Rigorous evaluation has shown that B-WET activities increase teachers' confidence, ability, and intention to employ MWEE techniques with their students. Student experiences in turn have been shown to increase intention to take action to improve the watershed, and have the potential to increase academic achievement in science.
Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs)
NOAA B-WET is an environmental education program that promotes locally relevant, experiential learning for K-12 school students. B-WET administers a competitive funding process that promotes Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences that
- are investigative or project oriented
- are an integral part of the instructional program
- are part of a sustained activity
- considers the watershed as a system
- are enhanced by NOAA products, services, or personnel, where appropriate