What is a MWEE?

“The Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) is a learner-centered framework that focuses on investigations into local environmental issues and leads to informed action. MWEEs are made up of multiple components that include learning both outdoors and in the classroom and are designed to increase environmental literacy by actively engaging students in building knowledge and meaning through hands-on experiences. In these experiences, the core ideas and practices of multiple disciplines are applied to make sense of the relationships between the natural world and society. MWEEs help connect students with their local environment and equip them to make decisions and take actions that contribute to stronger, sustainable, and equitable communities.” – NOAA

https://www.baybackpack.com/mwee/what-is-a-mwee

Educator Training: MWEE 101

Educators must take a MWEE 101 course to become a NRLE teacher. This 4-hour workshop may be offered as a stand-alone workshop or as part of a NRLE Classroom Institute (offered every other summer). Check the Friends of Reinstein Woods Educator Workshop Page for upcoming workshops or contact teachered@reinsteinwoods.org.

The online MWEE 101 course offered by the NOAA Chesapeake Bay-Watershed Education and Training Program can also fulfill this requirement.

MWEE Educator Resources

• An Educator’s Guide to the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience 
• General MWEE Teaching Resources 
• Great Lakes MWEE Teaching Resources: Coming Soon
• Sample NRLE Watershed MWEEs
  • Day in the Life of the NRLE Watershed 

NRLE Classroom Program Contact: 

Mary Ronan | NYSDEC Environmental Educator | mary.ronan@dec.ny.gov