The 2025 Pacific Northwest Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) grant program, administered by the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary), supports high-quality environmental education for K-12 students through Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs). These experiential learning opportunities aim to enhance climate resilience, increase environmental literacy, and foster stewardship by engaging students in authentic investigations of local environmental issues. The program emphasizes hands-on, place-based learning and includes significant teacher professional development.

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support two specific priority areas: systemic classroom-integrated MWEEs for K-12 students that promote climate resilience and include quality teacher professional development, and MWEEs that appropriately involve Indigenous Knowledge while promoting climate resilience. Projects must be aligned with NOAA's education and environmental stewardship goals and should incorporate all four MWEE essential elements—Issue Definition, Outdoor Field Experiences, Synthesis and Conclusions, and Environmental Action Projects—as well as four supporting practices, including Teacher Facilitation and Learning Integration.

Funding can be used for projects based in any U.S. state, but the direct beneficiaries—teachers and students—must be located in the Pacific Northwest, specifically Washington and Oregon. Projects may last up to 24 months, with funding ranging from $60,000 to $150,000. Approximately $750,000 is available for FY 2025. Applicants may propose either one-year or two-year projects and should include a budget for the entire period. Applicants must use NOAA resources, align activities to local/state learning standards, and incorporate climate science education and resilience elements.

Eligible applicants include K-12 public and independent schools and systems, higher education institutions, nonprofits, regional, state or local government agencies, and Indian tribal governments. Individuals, for-profit entities, and federal agencies are not eligible to apply but may participate as project partners. All applicants must register with SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons before submission, a process that may take up to six weeks. Required application materials include a project summary, a detailed project description (up to 15 pages), a budget and justification, and supporting documents such as resumes, letters of commitment, and evaluation plans.

Evaluation criteria include relevance to program goals, technical merit, qualifications of applicants, project costs, and outreach strategies. Applications are due by April 14, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Funded projects are expected to begin on or after August 1, 2025. Pre-award costs incurred within 90 days prior to the award start date are allowed. Grant recipients must submit semi-annual financial and performance reports through eRA Commons. Contact for the program is Bronwen Rice, NOAA B-WET Program Manager, reachable at Bronwen.Rice@noaa.gov or 202-604-1388.