Climate Education Award for Massachusetts Teachers

February 18, 2020

Since 2012, Bow Seat has encouraged students around the world to use the creative arts to explore how human activities impact the health of our ocean. This year, Bow Seat is working to expand our reach in our home state of Massachusetts to bring attention to how the global climate crisis impacts local communities, as well as what is being done across the Commonwealth to build a climate-safe and resilient future.

As an educator, you play an indispensable role in preparing students to understand the challenges facing our planet and inspiring them to take action. The Ocean Awareness Contest is a tool you can use in any subject to teach students about environmental issues, apply classroom learning to real-world problems, and build students’ research and communication skills.

Our 2020 Ocean Awareness Contest, Climate Hope: Transforming Crisis, invites youth to learn about climate change, explore or imagine solutions, and share their visions–through visual art, writing, film, music, or multimedia–for transforming the world. From expanding renewable energy, building resilience and community on urban farms, and restoring coastal ecosystems, there are many examples of climate hope throughout Massachusetts.

Thanks to generous support from the Island Foundation, we are thrilled to be able to offer new award opportunities in 2020 for Massachusetts students and educators:

• $250 Bay State Awards, to honor Massachusetts students who call attention to how the climate crisis impacts communities in the Commonwealth;
• $250 South Coast, Cape & Islands Awards, to recognize participants from these coastal regions whose works illustrate climate action and hope in their communities; and
• The Bay State Educator Award—a $750 cash prize and $500 classroom grant—to celebrate an educator who creatively and effectively teaches the Ocean Awareness Contest.

Thank you for helping to create a generation of ocean caretakers and advocates—starting in your own classroom!

Download Info Sheet: Awards for Massachusetts Students & Educators >

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Bay State Educator Award: How to Apply

Teachers, informal educators, homeschool teachers, youth program coordinators, and librarians are all eligible to apply.

1. Use the Ocean Awareness Contest in your classroom. Check out our Resource Studio for lesson plans, activities, visualization tools, and other resources to help you get started. We even have a Guide to Introducing the Contest to your students, whether you have 5 minutes or an entire class period!
2. You must be the named sponsor for at least one 2020 student participant. The submission deadline is June 15, 2020. Review the information for teachers and adult sponsors.
3. Complete the Educator Innovation Award nomination form by July 1, 2020.