Ohio · Federal Grant

NOAA B-WET: Bay Watershed Education (Ohio)

NOAA's Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program funds K-12 watershed environmental education in Ohio, supporting meaningful watershed experiences that connect students to the Great Lakes and Ohio River systems.

Funding

$50,000–$200,000

Eligibility

Ohio nonprofits, schools, and education organizations in watershed areas

Grade Focus

K-12

Subject

Environmental Science / STEM / Watershed Education

Deadline

Annual NOAA solicitation

Type

Federal Grant

About This Grant

NOAA's B-WET program funds Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) that connect students to real local watersheds. Ohio has extraordinary watershed relevance: Lake Erie's western basin is one of the most ecologically stressed Great Lakes zones, the Ohio River watershed covers most of the state, and thousands of streams and rivers across Ohio provide local investigation contexts for every school.

Ohio B-WET programs help students understand how their everyday actions affect the watersheds that provide Ohio's drinking water, support fisheries, and connect to the Great Lakes. Programs that use physical computing — sensors for water quality monitoring, weather stations, biological data collection — are excellent B-WET candidates, combining STEM skills with genuine environmental investigation.

Ohio falls under NOAA's Great Lakes B-WET region, which has a strong funding history. Organizations with relationships to Ohio Sea Grant, university extension programs, or water management authorities have built the partnerships that make competitive B-WET proposals.

View NOAA B-WET: Bay Watershed Education (Ohio) →

Eligibility

Ohio nonprofits, schools, and government agencies in Lake Erie or Ohio River watershed areas
Programs delivering MWEEs to K-12 students
Projects connecting students to real local Ohio watershed investigation and stewardship
Applications addressing NOAA priority themes: water quality, fisheries, climate impacts

Allowable Uses

Physical computing hardware (coding kits, micro:bits, robotics)
CS and AI literacy curriculum
Teacher professional development
Water quality sensors, field investigation tools, and environmental monitoring equipment

Forward Education Products for This Grant

Forward Education offers classroom-ready kits that align with Ohio CS standards and fit cleanly into grant budgets. All kits include teacher guides and curriculum.

micro:bit Starter Kit — Entry-level physical computing, perfect for introducing coding and computational thinking.
MicroChat AI Literacy Kit — Hands-on AI literacy curriculum covering machine learning concepts for K-12 classrooms.
Coding for Good Kit — Project-based learning kit connecting coding skills to real-world community challenges.
micro:bit Robotics Kit — Advanced robotics and engineering challenges for deeper CS exploration.

Keep in Mind

Lake Erie is Ohio's most prominent B-WET context — programs connected to Lake Erie algal bloom research or Great Lakes water quality are very competitive.
Deliver a complete MWEE: foundational knowledge, field investigation, synthesis, and stewardship action.
Partner with Ohio Sea Grant or a university extension program to strengthen scientific credibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience?

A MWEE includes foundational knowledge, field investigation, synthesis activities, and a student environmental action. NOAA B-WET requires complete MWEEs, not just field trips.

Which NOAA B-WET region covers Ohio?

Ohio falls under the Great Lakes B-WET region. Check current NOAA solicitation documents for regional specifics.

Can technology be used in B-WET programs?

Yes. Water sensors, microcontrollers for data collection, and mapping tools are appropriate for B-WET watershed investigations.

How does B-WET differ from Ohio Sea Grant?

Ohio Sea Grant focuses on Great Lakes research and education broadly. B-WET specifically funds K-12 watershed educational experiences. Both are NOAA-affiliated programs.

How can Forward Education help?

We provide curriculum alignment documents mapped to Ohio CS standards, pricing letters for grant budgets, and letters of support for qualifying applications. Reach out before you apply.