FY13 Great Lakes Bay Watershed Education and Training Program | Apply Online

FAQs: FY13 Great Lakes Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program

What is the FY13 Great Lakes B-WET Program?

The FY13 Great Lakes Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program was a competitive federal funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Commerce through NOAA. It was administered through NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries under the Marine Sanctuary Program (CFDA 11.429) and focused on strengthening environmental education across the Great Lakes watershed.

What was the main purpose of this grant opportunity?

The program aimed to support high-quality, hands-on watershed learning for K-12 students and professional development opportunities for teachers. The intent was to promote meaningful, place-based learning tied to local watersheds and to build educator capacity to teach environmental and watershed concepts more effectively.

Who was the funding agency and program office for this opportunity?

The funding came from the U.S. Department of Commerce through NOAA, specifically the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries under the Marine Sanctuary Program.

What types of funding instruments were used?

Funding was provided through grants and cooperative agreements. The use of cooperative agreements signaled NOAA involvement and an expectation of coordinated work toward shared program goals.

How much funding could an applicant request?

Individual awards ranged from $25,000 (minimum) to $75,000 (maximum).

How many awards did NOAA expect to make?

NOAA anticipated making about seven awards under this announcement.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement for this opportunity.

What kinds of activities or projects were encouraged?

The opportunity emphasized environmental education and training in the Great Lakes watershed, including hands-on, field-based, and locally relevant learning experiences for K-12 students, along with professional development for teachers. Projects were expected to be authentic and place-based, connecting local watershed priorities to classroom instruction and student experiences.

Could projects include science or research components?

Yes, projects could incorporate applied field experiences, data collection, or other learning activities grounded in real environmental science. However, the central purpose needed to remain education and training rather than purely academic research.

What was the geographic focus?

The program focused on the Great Lakes watershed and strengthening environmental education efforts connected to that region.

What role did partnerships play in the program?

Partnership-building was a major theme. The program sought to build and expand collaborations among schools, nonprofits, community organizations, higher education institutions, and government entities to better align education efforts with regional environmental and educational priorities in the Great Lakes.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad and included K-12 public and independent schools and school systems, colleges and universities, community-based organizations and nonprofits, state or local government agencies, interstate agencies, and Indian tribal governments.

Did NOAA encourage proposals from specific institution types?

Yes. NOAA encouraged proposals involving historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), tribal colleges and universities, and institutions serving underserved areas, reflecting an emphasis on broadening participation.

What categories did this opportunity fall under?

The opportunity was categorized under education, as well as science and technology and other research and development, reflecting that projects could include real-world science-based learning while remaining focused on education and training outcomes.

When was the opportunity posted and when were applications due?

The announcement was posted on September 17, 2012, and the application deadline was November 2, 2012.

Is this opportunity still open?

No. The announcement was later archived on December 2, 2012.

What is CFDA 11.429?

CFDA 11.429 is the program identifier associated with this NOAA Marine Sanctuary Program funding opportunity.

Who was the point of contact for questions or access issues?

Questions or access issues related to the full announcement were directed to Seaberry Nachbar of NOAA's B-WET Program, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, located at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Monterey, California.

What audiences were intended to benefit from funded projects?

Funded efforts were designed to benefit K-12 students through watershed learning experiences and teachers through professional development, with the broader goal of strengthening environmental education across the Great Lakes watershed.

What made a project a good fit for this opportunity?

Based on the announcement description, strong alignment included hands-on watershed education for K-12 students, teacher professional development, place-based learning tied to local watersheds, and partnership-driven approaches that connect education efforts to Great Lakes regional priorities.