The NOAA B-WET program is a competitive grants program that provides funding for locally relevant environmental education projects for K-12 audiences. The core component of B-WET-funded projects is the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). The MWEE is a learner-centered framework that focuses on investigations into local environmental issues and leads to informed action. These activities leverage local STEM assets and STEM professionals. B-WET funding supports states, school districts, and their partners to develop high-quality environmental education experiences for every student, as well as rigorous teacher training opportunities.

B-WET serves seven regions of the country: California, Chesapeake, Great Lakes, Gulf of America, Hawaiʻi, New England, and Pacific Northwest. Regional implementation allows B-WET to be responsive to local education and environmental priorities. Each region connects grantees to their watershed, supported by relevant NOAA assets and local resources and expertise.

Fiscal year 2024 B-WET program impacts

• B-WET supported 124 institutions bringing locally relevant, authentic experiential environmental learning to K-12 audiences, supported by local STEM assets and STEM professionals and impacting a total of 24 states and the District of Columbia.
• More than 7,000 educators received professional development to enhance their skills and confidence in using environmental education and MWEEs to address multiple subjects’ curriculum standards and local education agency initiatives.
• More than 68,400 students participated in multi-stage, inquiry-based activities that include learning both in the classroom and outdoors in a local context.

In addition to these impacts, learn about the growth of the B-WET program since 2002 on our timeline.

B-WET national evaluation impacts

B-WET uses internal and external evaluation, current research on teaching and learning, and lessons learned from over two decades of program implementation to improve and refine the core B-WET experience, the MWEE. Conducting national-level program evaluation while staying up-to-date on current education research helps us monitor and adjust program activities and MWEE components through evidence-based best practices. For example, using data from our B-WET national evaluation and an internal review of the most recent research on teacher professional development, we revised our list of teacher MWEE professional development characteristics to ensure grantees develop and deliver high-quality professional development for teachers.

A national evaluation of program data collected between 2016 and 2021 found that:

• B-WET-funded professional development program leaders utilized teaching practices that reflect current research on teaching and learning best practices.
• As a result of participation in B-WET funded professional development, teachers improved their knowledge of watershed science and increased their confidence in teaching about watersheds and in leading stewardship actions related to watersheds.
• Teachers report that after engaging in B-WET funded programs, their students increased their understanding of watershed science, improved their science skills, were more engaged in their learning, and were more likely to improve their performance on state standardized tests.
• Nearly all students (98%) engaged in collecting scientific data or making scientific observations while participating in B-WET programs, a practice demonstrated by research in education to improve student achievement in, and understanding of, science.
• Teachers leave B-WET-funded professional development programs feeling prepared and energized to lead their students through learner-centered, inquiry-based learning activities focused on local environmental stewardship actions.
• At least two-thirds of B-WET grant recipients report that student participants increased their knowledge about watersheds (83%), increased their intentions to act to protect or restore watersheds (66%), and changed their attitudes toward watersheds (69%).
• More than 80% of B-WET grant recipients believe their projects contributed to MWEEs becoming part of the regular curriculum or practice at multiple schools.
• 84% of B-WET grant recipients agree or strongly agree that the B-WET grant improved the overall quality of environmental education at their organization.
• 84% of B-WET grant recipients substantially aligned their MWEEs with state education standards, and 77% aligned their MWEEs with the Next Generation Science Standards.

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. These locally relevant, out-of-school-time projects developed students’ environmental literacy and leadership skills as they improved their communities.

In the round of implementation that concluded in 2023, the program supported 30 projects in all seven B-WET regions. These projects engaged:

• 97 local 21st CCLC site partners in 18 states.
• 5,970 students at the 21st CCLC sites.
• 263 science subject matter experts who engaged with students and introduced them to STEM topics and careers.
• 830 21st CCLC site staff that directly collaborated with environmental education organizations on the design and implementation of the projects.

Evaluation of this most recent round of program implementation found:

• Youth responded positively to being outdoors and engaging in active, hands-on activities.
• 21st CCLC sites reported increased capacity to implement environmental education programming.
• Environmental education organizations and 21st CCLCs expressed interest in continuing to work together.

In 2024, B-WET and the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) began working with 12 environmental education organizations that offer engaging out-of-school STEM programs focusing on students’ local watersheds. 

Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by NAAEE. For more information on these projects, please visit NAAEE’s website offsite link or the You for Youth NOAA partnership website offsite link.