Five of the seven B-WET regions are coordinated by or in partnership with the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. These five B-WET regions support national marine sanctuary communities by working with students and teachers to educate participants about issues impacting sanctuaries and highlight sanctuary resources. Since 2003, the four sanctuary managed B-WET regions have funded 673 awards totaling $24,442,282.
In FY25, B-WET programs in sanctuary communities:
From Washington state to the Gulf of America and from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Islands, the National Marine Sanctuary System protects 18 underwater parks spanning over 629,000 square miles of ocean and Great Lakes waters. By investing in innovative solutions, we strengthen these iconic places to address 21st-century challenges while supporting America's commerce and tourism. These unique locations inspire people to visit, value, and steward our nation’s iconic ocean and Great Lakes waters.
The California B-WET program partners with schools and school districts to support opportunities for students to have a direct, meaningful, mutually nurturing relationship with the outdoors and the natural world. Selected projects support environment-based education for teachers and students that advances the California Environmental Principles and Concepts.
The Great Lakes B-WET program funds existing environmental K-12 education programs, fosters the growth of new, innovative programs, and encourages capacity building and partnership development for environmental education programs. Funded projects support Great Lakes literacy and stewardship priorities of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
The Gulf of America B-WET (Gulf B-WET) program supports experience-based learning opportunities to promote stewardship of watersheds of the Gulf of America. Gulf B-WET projects support the priority issues of the Gulf of America Alliance, a regional partnership with the goal of enhancing the ecological and economic health of the Gulf of America.
The Hawaiʻi B-WET program serves the state of Hawaiʻi (including Papahānaumokuākea) with competitions that focus on priorities like Indigenous knowledge and stewardship science. Hawaiʻi B-WET projects support problem solvers, community leaders, and engaged decision-makers tasked with managing finite island resources across Hawaiʻi.
The Pacific Northwest B-WET program funds projects that engage K-12 students and teachers in outdoor learning focused around local watershed issues in Oregon and Washington.
