A total of roughly $2.7 million may be available for schools, school systems, higher education institutions, community-based and nonprofit organizations, state or local government agencies, interstate agencies, and Indian tribal governments seeking to support education of the next generation of Chesapeake Bay stewards. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office has released details on requirements and the process for applying for FY15 Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET)grants; applications are due by January 14, 2015. B-WET supports programs that provide hands-on environmental education about issues affecting the Chesapeake Bay watershed for students and related professional development for educators who serve formal K-12 audiences.

Share Fair is a day for educators to come together and become part of the transformation of teaching and learning. Share Fair provides an opportunity for educators, students, and the community to come together with the leaders in K-12 innovation to experience hands-on, mind-on education methods helping to transform education and propel schools across the country toward the best 21st Century learning opportunities.

An essential component of the NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) mission is to enhance ocean science and literacy and to build interest in careers that support ocean related work. To help fulfill this mission, the Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection was developed to encourage educators and students to become engaged in real time with the voyages and discoveries of the NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer – America’s first federal ship dedicated to Ocean Exploration. Join NOAA OER Facilitator Melissa Ryan, as you are introduced to volume 1 of the Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection: Why Do We Explore?

School is in session which means it is time for the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s annual awards program! Every year the Trust, a non-profit grantmaking organization dedicated to environmental education and restoration work, recognizes two students and one teacher from Maryland who have shown a strong commitment to their local environment and the Chesapeake Bay. The winning students are honored with a $5,000 college scholarship and the winning teacher will be given a $2,500 grant award to support environmental education through the Trust. The winners will be formally announced at the Trust’s Legislative Reception at the Maryland State House in January 2015. Applicants can be self-nominated or nominated by individuals who are not family members and the deadline to apply is December 5, 2014 at 5:00 pm.