Educator Innovation Awards | Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs

Educator Innovation Award

Many of our sponsors are teachers or program coordinators who effectively and creatively bring the Ocean Awareness Contest into their physical or virtual classrooms, teaching entire groups of students about environmental issues and empowering them to be stewards of our blue planet, while meeting important educational standards.

To recognize their efforts, Bow Seat grants Educator Innovation Awards of $500. To be considered for this award, or to nominate an educator, please complete this form by July 1, 2025.

Bow Seat requests that a sponsor who has received an Educator Innovation Award for two successive years take a one-year hiatus before reapplying.

Bay State Educator Award

All Educator Innovation Award nominees who teach in Massachusetts will be automatically considered for the Bay State Educator Award, a special recognition to celebrate those who exemplify creativity and stewardship in their work with young people in the Commonwealth. One winner will receive a $500 cash award plus a $250 classroom grant ($750 total prize package).

More Information >

Congratulations to the 2024 Educator Innovation Award winners!

Read more about why these educators brought the Ocean Awareness Contest into their classrooms, and how they used it to engage students in creative climate action.

2024 Winners

Nomination Form

2025 Educator Innovation Award

What is your full name?*
First Last
What is your email address?*
Enter Email Confirm Email
Do you have an alternate email address?
We suggest providing both a personal email address and a school email address.
Enter Email Confirm Email
Who are you nominating for the Educator Innovation Award?*
- Myself
- Other
What is the nominee’s full name?*
First Last
What is the nominee’s email address?*
Enter Email Confirm Email
Nominee's School/Organization*
Name of the school or organization where the nominee used the Ocean Awareness Contest.
Nominee's School/Organization Country*
Nominee's School/Organization State*
Nominee's Title*
Example: Art Teacher; Program Coordinator; Librarian; Gifted Education Specialist
What subject(s) does the nominee teach?*
What grade(s) does the nominee teach?*
- Grades 6-8
- Grades 9-12
- Other
Please describe how the nominee brought Bow Seat's Ocean Awareness Contest into their classroom or program.*
Why did the nominee bring the Ocean Awareness Contest into their classroom?*
What resources did the nominee use (e.g., lesson plans, websites, articles, podcasts, videos, etc.) to teach their students about climate change?*
Did the nominee collaborate with other teachers and/or community partners? If yes, who? What were each partner’s roles and responsibilities?
What challenges, if any, did the nominee face in bringing the Contest into their classroom?
How would the nominee use a $250 classroom grant?
Is this the first time that the nominee brought the Ocean Awareness Contest into their classroom?*
- Yes
- No
- Not sure
Anything else you would like to add?
Supporting Materials (optional, but recommended)
Please upload any relevant supporting materials the nominee used, such as lesson plans, presentations, photographs, instructions, etc. If you have trouble uploading materials, please email us at [email protected].
Drop files here or

Max. file size: 30 MB.

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