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Kevin Schabow-NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office Josh Falk-Smithsonian Env. Research Center Cat Stylinski-UMCES Appalachian Lab

Innovative Approaches to the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE). Kevin Schabow-NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office Josh Falk-Smithsonian Env. Research Center Cat Stylinski-UMCES Appalachian Lab. Presentation Outline. Background to the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience

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Kevin Schabow-NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office Josh Falk-Smithsonian Env. Research Center Cat Stylinski-UMCES Appalachian Lab

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  1. Innovative Approaches to the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) Kevin Schabow-NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office Josh Falk-Smithsonian Env. Research Center Cat Stylinski-UMCES Appalachian Lab

  2. Presentation Outline Background to the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience Overview of NOAA B-WET Program Spotlight MWEE Programs -Student Training in Aquatic Research (SERC) -Mapping and Monitoring Maryland Streams (UMCES Appalachian Lab)

  3. Governor of MD Governor of PA Governor of VA Mayor of DC EPA Administrator Executive Council Chair of Chesapeake Bay Commission Chesapeake Bay Program

  4. Bay Program Education Commitments Endorsed by Governors of the Bay Watershed and DC Mayor • Keystone Commitment signed in 2000 “Beginning with the class of 2005, provide a meaningful Bay or stream outdoor experience for every school student in the watershed before graduation from high school.” • Endorsement of the MWEE (Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience)- January 2005

  5. What is a MWEE? • Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience • Investigative or Project-oriented • 3 Phases: Preparation, Action, & Reflection • Integral, Sustained Part of Instructional Program • Studies Watershed as a System – Projects not always on Bay • External Sharing & Communication

  6. NOAA B-WET • Began in Chesapeake Region in 2002 to support MWEE implementation • Has expanded to 5 other regions-California, Hawai’i, Pacific NW, Gulf of Mexico, New England • Variations on a theme: • All programs focus on meaningful watershed experiences • Specific implementation tailored to local needs • Built upon established NOAA presence

  7. Educational Programming of NCBO Community Engagement NEMO, Environmental Science Training Center Experiential Learning for K-12 Classrooms B-WET NOAA InternshipsCollege and Early Career In-Depth Studies in High SchoolEmerging Scientist Project NOAA @ Nauticus Exhibits, Lecture Series, Education Resource Center Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System Curricula, Web-Based Investigations Strategic Initiatives • Summer Camps • Learning through Observations • Collaboration

  8. Chesapeake B-WET Awards • Priority Areas defined each year by FFO • 1 to 3 year Cooperative Agreements • $25,000 - $200,000 grants based upon priority area • Eligible organizations: • K-12 schools & school divisions, colleges, State & local agencies, & non-profits • Examples of Funded Projects: bay grass or riparian forest restoration, storm water management, schoolyard habitat & fisheries research

  9. NOAA B-WET Funding by State

  10. Priority Areas

  11. MWEEs for Students High-quality projects that provide opportunities for K-12 students to participate in MWEEs when the applicant can demonstrate that it is not possible or in the projects best interest to meet the criteria of an exemplary program.

  12. Teacher Professional Development • Provide K-12 teachers opportunities for professional development when the applicant can demonstrate that it is not possible or in the projects best interest to meet the criteria of an exemplary program. • Multi-day professional development opportunities with continual support • Reinforces teacher's ability to teach, inspire, and lead young people toward thoughtful stewardship of our natural resources.

  13. Exemplary Programs Programs combining Teacher Professional Development with long-term classroom-integrated MWEEs for their Students

  14. Proving Success: MWEE Evaluation • Purpose: Evaluate the effectiveness of the program design • Goal: To determine if meaningful watershed experiences supported by NOAA B-WET increase the stewardship ethic and/or academic achievement of students • Partnership Effort: Funded by NOAA, Chesapeake Bay Trust & Keith Campbell Foundation • Students receiving meaningful experiences increased in environmental stewardship qualities • Intention to Act to protect Chesapeake Bay • Knowledge of issues confronting watershed • Knowledge of actions in which they can engage to protect watershed • Teachers receiving B-WET training: • Increased confidence in their ability to deliver experiences • Increased likelihood of implementing experiences • Almost all teachers taught about the Bay after the PD, including large majority of teachers who had not done so before training • 3/4 of teachers used the outdoors to teach about the watershed • 1/3 implemented complete meaningful watershed experiences

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