Press Release: eeBLUE Celebrates 21 New Grantees Working Across the United States to Create More Resilient Communities and a Healthy Ocean

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[Washington, D.C., July 17, 2024] — The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is excited to announce two new cohorts of grantees as part of its eeBLUE partnership aimed at furthering environmental and science literacy to build more resilient communities nationwide. These grants are part of eeBLUE, a partnership program that supports the mutual environmental education goals of NOAA and NAAEE.

"We are excited about these eeBLUE grantees and looking forward to the work they will do. The grants will support students and educators learning about their watersheds and new partnerships to increase aquaculture outreach and education. We are grateful to NAAEE for their partnerships and the positive impact these awards will have on communities across the country," says Louisa Koch, director of NOAA Education.

“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.”

eeBLUE 21st CCLC Watershed STEM Education Partnership Grantees

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.

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 (21st CCLC) 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.

"We’re thrilled to expand our programs on the Island of Molokaʻi through the eeBLUE Watershed STEM Education Partnership grant and to bring a new "Wai to Kai" program to 21st Century staff and students,” said Diana Papini Warren, executive director of Learning Endeavors and a 2024 Watershed STEM grantee. “Each grade cluster will receive a unique set of resources and curriculum, such as iPads and wireless digital microscopes, water testing equipment, and other hands-on science tools. All participants will get to visit the giant inflatable Humpback Whale, thanks to a wonderful partnership with NOAA."

Learn more about eeBLUE 21st CCLC Watershed STEM Education Partnership Grantees > 

Congratulations to the 2024 eeBLUE 21st CCLC Watershed STEM Education Partnership Grantees:

Friends of Reinstein Nature Preserve, Inc. (dba Friends of Reinstein Woods), New York
ShoreRivers, Maryland
Boxerwood Education Association, Inc., Virginia
EdAdvance, Connecticut
Maine Audubon Society, Maine
Learning Endeavors, Hawaii
The Artist Boat, Inc., Texas
Greater Farallones Association, California
South Sound Estuary Association: DBA, Puget Sound Estuarium, Washington
Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council, Michigan
Earth Team, California
Stroud Water Research Center, Inc., Pennsylvania

eeBLUE Aquaculture Literacy Mini-Grantees

The eeBLUE Aquaculture Literacy Mini-Grants program has awarded $165K across nine grantees for their projects that aim to enhance aquaculture literacy. This program supports aquaculture literacy projects that form partnerships between informal learning institutions (e.g., aquariums and museums), the aquaculture industry (e.g., seafood farmers and organizations), and NOAA offices or programs (e.g., NOAA Fisheries regional office, Sea Grant programs). Aquaculture efforts can improve communities by providing jobs and economic opportunities while improving local ecosystems through species and habitat restoration and improving water quality.

These grants will support programming for four NOAA Fisheries regions and their community members, many of whom have never had access to this level of aquaculture outreach and education resources. Awardees span the eastern seaboard, with their work reaching eight states from Maine to Florida and as far west as Washington state. All will participate in activities and partnerships to raise awareness about the importance of aquaculture to the health and vitality of their communities and local ecosystems.

“At the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, we find that many of our visitors are curious about local seafood but often overlook Florida aquaculture as a sustainable alternative to wild capture fisheries,” shared Leah Biery, executive director of Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center. “Through this new exhibit, my project partners and I are excited to highlight how aquaculture supports the conservation of Florida’s habitats and wild fish populations and grows seafood that is delicious and healthy.”

Learn more about eeBLUE Aquaculture Literacy Grantees >

Congratulations to the 2024 eeBLUE Aquaculture Literacy Grantees:

Maryland Sea Grant, Maryland
Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center, Maine
North Carolina Sea Grant, North Carolina
Tampa Watch Discovery Center, Florida
Martha's Vineyard Shellfish Group, Massachusetts
University of New Hampshire, New Hampshire
South Carolina Aquarium, South Carolina
Saltwater Classroom, Maine
IBSS Corp. (Imagine Better Solutions and Services), Washington
 
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About eeBLUE

Dive into eeBLUE, a dynamic partnership between the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This five-year, $7 million initiative aims to bridge STEM education and environmental literacy, empower communities to tackle climate challenges, reach new audiences, and cultivate environmental problem-solvers. Aligned with U.S. Department of Education goals, eeBLUE offers cutting-edge STEM programs, robust educator networks, and innovative outreach strategies through grants, fellowships, and networks. The partnership is creating a ripple effect throughout communities by connecting schools, nonformal institutions, universities, and others to foster a more sustainable, informed, and resilient society. To learn more and follow our partners’ eeBLUE journey, please visit our webpage and follow NAAEE on Facebook and Instagram @TheNAAEE.

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

About the U.S. Department of Education’s Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Program

This program supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The program helps students meet state and local student standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math; offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement their regular academic programs; and offers literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children.

The 21st CCLC program is the largest out-of-school program in the nation, serving over 1.5 million students in all 50 states. The 21st CCLC sites provide academic enrichment opportunities during out-of-school time for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools.