Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NOS ONMS 2023 2007548
The 2023 NOAA California Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program opportunity, titled "Build Capacity for Implementing Climate Literacy in Classrooms," is a discretionary federal funding program run under the U.S. Department of Commerce (NOAA). It supports projects that strengthen climate literacy efforts for K-12 learners by expanding the ability of schools, educators, and partner organizations to deliver high-quality, locally relevant environmental education. The emphasis is on building practical, on-the-ground capacity so more students experience climate and watershed learning in ways that connect directly to their own communities and local environmental challenges.
At the center of the program is NOAA's Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) approach, which combines classroom instruction with authentic outdoor learning. Projects are expected to engage students in a learning sequence that typically includes defining an environmental issue, participating in field-based experiences outdoors, analyzing and synthesizing what they observed and learned, drawing conclusions, and then completing an environmental action project. The broader purpose is to improve student understanding and stewardship of the ocean, local watersheds, and special protected places such as national marine sanctuaries, so that students develop the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions about environmental and climate-related issues.
This funding is specifically available to applicants serving communities within designated California counties: Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, Mendocino, Lake, Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Solano, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Mateo, Alameda, San Joaquin, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Monterey, San Benito, Merced, Madera, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Kings, Tulare, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. In practice, that geographic focus means proposals should clearly show how their work will benefit K-12 audiences in one or more of these counties and how the local context (coastal, bay, river, creek, lake, or watershed conditions) will be used to make climate literacy instruction more tangible and relevant.
A major priority running through the opportunity is equity in access to environmental learning. The program frames access to meaningful watershed experiences as something that should benefit all communities and acknowledges that many students do not consistently receive well-funded, high-quality environmental education. It also notes that historically marginalized communities have often not seen their identities reflected in nature and environmental fields, which can create barriers to belonging and participation. Because of this, diversity, equity, and inclusion are described as core to the program's decision-making, with a stated intention to prioritize opportunities that meaningfully engage youth in marginalized communities and help create learning environments where students of all backgrounds feel welcomed and represented.
From an administrative standpoint, awards are offered through grants and cooperative agreements under NOAA Opportunity Number NOAA NOS ONMS 2023 2007548, tied to CFDA 11.429. The opportunity was posted December 19, 2022, with an original closing date of February 23, 2023. NOAA anticipated making around six awards, with an award ceiling of $300,000 per award. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full notice, suggesting the program may allow a range of education-focused organizations, nonprofits, institutions, or partnerships to apply depending on the specific criteria in the full announcement.
Overall, this opportunity is designed for organizations that can strengthen climate literacy instruction by scaling or improving MWEEs, deepening teacher and classroom capacity, and ensuring students can connect climate concepts to the watersheds and coastal systems around them. The program is not just about delivering lessons; it is about helping build lasting systems, partnerships, and inclusive practices that enable more schools and educators to provide consistent, meaningful, and community-connected environmental learning experiences.Apply for NOAA NOS ONMS 2023 2007548
- The Department of Commerce in the business and commerce, education, environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2023 NOAA California Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program- Build Capacity for Implementing Climate Literacy in Classrooms" 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 19, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 23, 2023. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: 2023 NOAA California Bay-Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program - Build Capacity for Implementing Climate Literacy in Classrooms
1) What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary federal funding opportunity under the U.S. Department of Commerce (NOAA) through the California Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program. The 2023 opportunity is titled "Build Capacity for Implementing Climate Literacy in Classrooms."
2) What is the main goal of the program?
The program supports projects that strengthen climate literacy for K-12 learners by expanding the capacity of schools, educators, and partner organizations to deliver high-quality, locally relevant environmental education. The focus is on practical, on-the-ground capacity so more students can engage in climate and watershed learning connected to their own communities and local environmental challenges.
3) Who is the intended audience or beneficiary of funded projects?
Projects are intended to benefit K-12 learners. The opportunity emphasizes building the ability of educators, schools, and partner organizations to consistently provide meaningful climate and watershed education experiences for students.
4) What types of learning experiences does the program emphasize?
The opportunity centers on NOAA's Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) approach, which combines classroom instruction with authentic outdoor learning and field-based experiences.
5) What is an MWEE (Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience) in this program?
An MWEE is a learning sequence that typically includes: defining an environmental issue, participating in outdoor field-based experiences, analyzing and synthesizing observations and learning, drawing conclusions, and completing an environmental action project.
6) Does the program require outdoor or field-based learning?
The MWEE approach described by NOAA includes authentic outdoor learning and field-based experiences as a key element, paired with classroom instruction and follow-on analysis and action.
7) What is the broader educational purpose behind the MWEE approach?
The program aims to improve student understanding and stewardship of the ocean, local watersheds, and special protected places such as national marine sanctuaries, so students build knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about environmental and climate-related issues.
8) Is this grant focused only on climate literacy, or also watershed education?
The opportunity is focused on strengthening climate literacy in classrooms while using watershed- and place-based learning (including local watersheds and coastal systems) to make climate concepts tangible and locally relevant.
9) What geographic area is eligible for this funding?
Funding is specifically available to applicants serving communities within designated California counties. Proposals should clearly show benefits to K-12 audiences in one or more of the eligible counties and use local watershed or coastal context to support climate literacy instruction.
10) Which California counties are included?
The eligible counties listed are: Del Norte, Humboldt, Trinity, Mendocino, Lake, Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Solano, San Francisco, Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Mateo, Alameda, San Joaquin, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Monterey, San Benito, Merced, Madera, Fresno, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Kings, Tulare, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.
11) How should applicants address the local context in their proposal?
Based on the opportunity description, proposals should explain how their work benefits K-12 audiences in one or more eligible counties and how local conditions (coastal, bay, river, creek, lake, or watershed conditions) will be used to make climate literacy instruction more relevant and community-connected.
12) What is the program's stance on equity and access?
Equity in access to meaningful watershed experiences is a major priority. The program notes that many students do not consistently receive well-funded, high-quality environmental education and that historically marginalized communities may face barriers to belonging and participation in environmental fields.
13) How are diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) reflected in the opportunity?
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are described as core to the program's decision-making. The opportunity states an intention to prioritize projects that meaningfully engage youth in marginalized communities and help create learning environments where students of all backgrounds feel welcomed and represented.
14) What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full notice. This suggests a range of education-focused organizations, nonprofits, institutions, or partnerships may be able to apply depending on the criteria in the full announcement.
15) What funding instrument will NOAA use for awards?
Awards are offered through grants and cooperative agreements, as described in the opportunity information.
16) What is the opportunity number and CFDA number?
The opportunity is NOAA Opportunity Number NOAA NOS ONMS 2023 2007548 and is tied to CFDA 11.429.
17) When was the opportunity posted and when was it due?
The opportunity was posted on December 19, 2022, with an original closing date of February 23, 2023.
18) How many awards did NOAA expect to make?
NOAA anticipated making around six awards.
19) What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $300,000 per award.
20) What kinds of project outcomes is NOAA looking for?
The opportunity is designed for organizations that can strengthen climate literacy instruction by scaling or improving MWEEs, deepening teacher and classroom capacity, and ensuring students can connect climate concepts to local watersheds and coastal systems. The description emphasizes building lasting systems, partnerships, and inclusive practices, not just delivering one-off lessons.
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