Greater Farallones Association Receives Grant from NAAEE and NOAA to Deliver Locally-Relevant Watershed STEM Education Programs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
We are thrilled to announce that we have been selected as a grantee for the eeBLUE 21st CCLC Watershed STEM Education Partnership by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
With this funding, we will deliver a unique coastal field trip/classroom ocean education program to 3rd-5th grade students enrolled in the after-school program at Jean Parker Elementary School, a Title 1 school and 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) in San Francisco, all at no cost to the school. This program will be delivered in partnership with NOAA’s Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries.
NAAEE, in collaboration with NOAA and supported by $1.1 million from the U.S. Department of Education, is working with 12 environmental education organizations to offer engaging after-school watershed-focused STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs.
“We are thrilled to continue this important work with NOAA and our partners to support educators and organizations creating opportunities for students and communities across the country,” says Judy Braus, executive director of NAAEE. “Together, through eeBLUE, we can strengthen environmental education, support equity and inclusion, and ultimately inspire lifelong stewardship and connections with nature.”
The 21st CCLC Watershed STEM Education Partnership Grants, administered by NAAEE and running from 2024–2025, support environmental education organizations collaborating directly with local Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers sites and their students, many of whom live in underserved areas. The 12 selected projects serve 11 states, ranging from Hawai’i to Maine. These sites play a crucial role in designing and implementing locally relevant, out-of-school-time programs that develop students’ environmental literacy and leadership skills as they improve their communities.
Students will learn about STEM while also building leadership and advocacy skills by participating in exciting hands-on learning activities and connecting to nature. Staff will also gain from the partnership, strengthening both environmental literacy and teaching skills. NOAA and 21st CCLC partners will deliver authentic STEM experiences that use components of the NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) model along with other NOAA assets and expertise.
“Greater Farallones Association is excited to bring this unique immersive-learning program to Jean Parker Elementary School students. This multifaceted program brings students to their local coastline and engages them in collecting real scientific data. We greatly appreciate the funding from NAAEE and NOAA,” says GFA Executive Director, Monika Krach.
About Greater Farallones Association
Greater Farallones Association (GFA) is the nonprofit partner to Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries, federally-protected areas encompassing more than 4,000 square miles of open ocean and coastal waters off the California coast. Through high-impact programs rooted in science, GFA engages over 14,000 adults and youth a year in ocean conservation, collects critical data on wildlife, restores vital habitats, and helps communities adapt to the impacts of climate change through nature-based solutions. Learn more at www.farallones.org
About NAAEE
For five decades, the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) has served as the professional association, champion, and backbone organization for the field of environmental education (EE), working with EE professionals across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as globally, to advance environmental literacy and civic engagement to create a more equitable and sustainable future. For more information on NAAEE, visit https://naaee.org
About NOAA
NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is an agency that enriches life through science. Our reach goes from the surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean floor as we work to keep the public informed of the changing environment around them. NOAA’s Office of Education provides opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to learn about the world around them. We provide scholarships and grants to inspire students and the public, help educators incorporate NOAA resources into their teaching, and build enduring relationships with partners whose expertise complements our own. Learn more about NOAA’s Office of Education: https://www.noaa.gov/office-education
Contact
media@farallones.org