Each year, NAME Mini-Grants help our members turn creative ideas into real-world learning experiences. These small but mighty grants—typically ranging from $50 to $350—are awarded twice a year to current NAME members for educational projects, workshops, and activities that promote the value and care of our water resources while enhancing the visibility of NAME.

Over the years, mini-grants have supported everything from water testing kits and building materials to student field trips and classroom resources. Below are three recent projects that show just how far a small grant can go.

Microplastics Imaging in Tacoma Public Schools

In Tacoma, WA, Megan Jacobsen of Tacoma Public Schools used a NAME mini-grant to purchase a state-of-the-art microplastics imaging tool. Her students regularly collect microplastics samples in the field, but transforming those samples into clear, quantitative data had always been a challenge—too complex, too time-consuming, and difficult to keep both rigorous and accessible for high school learners.

The new imaging system changed that. What once took multiple class periods and specialized skills is now an intuitive 15-minute workflow that students quickly learned to manage themselves—so quickly, in fact, that they ended up teaching Megan how to use the system and what it could and couldn’t do.

Although delays with other supplemental funding meant they couldn’t complete their planned semester-long research projects this year, the tool itself is a long-term asset: it requires no subscription, works with any computer, and will support years of student-led microplastics investigations in the Salish Sea. Megan shared deep gratitude for the NAME mini-grant, noting that it opened doors to learning opportunities that would otherwise have been out of reach.

Exploring Marine Careers at Hatfield Marine Science Center

Another recent NAME mini-grant supported Jenna John of Monroe High School in Eugene, OR, in taking a group of students to the annual Hatfield Marine Career Day—a dynamic event designed to introduce young people to the wide range of careers in marine and aquatic science. The students who attended had a memorable experience exploring the estuary, connecting with scientists, and participating in hands-on fieldwork.

Throughout the day, students discovered local invertebrates and seaweeds, conducted a transect survey at low tide, and engaged in interactive activities such as projecting where sea otters might be reintroduced along the Oregon coast and working through a stream restoration simulation. They also heard from three engaging guest speakers, each highlighting different professional pathways within marine science and conservation.

Jenna shared that the students had a fantastic time and left with a deeper sense of curiosity, confidence, and excitement about marine science. She expressed her gratitude for the NAME mini-grant, noting that it made this meaningful, career-expanding opportunity possible for her students.

Salish Sea Explorer Kits at The Whale Museum

On San Juan Island, The Whale Museum (TWM) used support from NAME and other regional funders to create a new set of Salish Sea Explorer Kits—marine-themed teaching kits designed for short-term loan to schools and community groups.

Developed in partnership with the Salish Sea School (Anacortes, WA) and the San Juan Island Library, the project produced nine kits in total: three focused on pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), three on cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), and three on salmon. Each kit is packed with:

• Carefully cleaned and prepared bones and other specimens
• Lesson plans and activity sheets
• Hands-on teaching tools such as blubber cross-sections, measuring ropes, and ID games
• Guidance documents and reference materials that can be tailored for learners from elementary through high school

Two full sets of kits now live at The Whale Museum, with another set at the Salish Sea School. To increase accessibility, TWM also partnered with the local library to create a library pass that allows community members to borrow a kit from TWM for free.

The kits officially launched in September 2025. While usage data is just beginning to come in, the infrastructure is in place: a lending system, webpages and request forms, shared protocols between TWM and the Salish Sea School, and evaluation forms for ongoing feedback. The Whale Museum has expressed strong appreciation for NAME’s contribution to a resource they expect will serve educators and community groups for many years.

Student Marine Debris Research at Neahkahnie Beach

In Portland, OR, a NAME mini-grant awarded to Northwest Academy supported a student-led field research project on marine plastic pollution at Neahkahnie Beach in Tillamook County, OR. Under the guidance of faculty advisor Molly Sultany, high school students designed and carried out a study using NOAA’s Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project (MDMAP) citizen science protocol.

The grant helped purchase key field tools—trash grabbers, reusable bags, 5-meter ropes, waterproof paper, and other supplies—allowing the research team to safely and systematically follow NOAA’s guidelines. During Summer 2024, students, teachers, and parent volunteers conducted multiple surveys along a 100-meter stretch of beach, divided into 5-meter transects that spanned both sandy main beach and rocky backshore zones.

Their findings painted a clear picture:

• Plastic dominated the debris: about 87% of all items collected were plastic.
• Expanded polystyrene foam (styrofoam) was especially common, accounting for more than a quarter of all plastic items.
• Roughly 75% of the debris was found in the rocky back barrier zone, compared to 25% on the sandy main beach, suggesting that cobbles and woody backshore areas trap more debris than open sand.

Beyond the numbers, the project gave students a deep, hands-on experience with scientific research: forming questions and hypotheses, learning standardized monitoring methods, collecting and analyzing data, and considering the limitations and next steps for future studies. Their work also filled a gap in NOAA’s monitoring records, as Neahkahnie Beach had not previously been surveyed through MDMAP, and contributed valuable baseline data for the Oregon Coast.

Monitoring the Wrack Line at Bob Straub State Park

Another NAME mini-grant supported CoastWatch in its work with students and teachers from Jane Goodall Environmental Middle School (JGEMS) at Bob Straub State Park—CoastWatch Mile 259, adopted by the school in 2023. Led by CoastWatch’s Jesse Jones, the November 7, 2024 field day brought together three teachers and five students to survey the beach, record observations, and continue developing a student-designed research protocol for studying the wrack line.

Each year, a different cohort of JGEMS students visits this mile-long stretch of Nestucca Spit to walk the beach, document conditions using CoastWatch’s standardized observation form, and note changes since the previous visit. Last year’s students became especially interested in the bull kelp that had accumulated in the wrack line, connecting their observations to classroom lessons about sea otters and the importance of healthy kelp forests.

This curiosity led them to ask a research question: Could studying the wrack line—especially the presence and abundance of bull kelp—help indicate what is happening offshore? To explore this idea, students drafted a protocol for wrack-line monitoring and presented it in spring 2024. During the November field day, this year’s group tested that protocol and determined that lightweight frame quadrats would improve accuracy during future surveys; these will be incorporated into the next visit.

The NAME mini-grant funded Jesse’s travel from Astoria, time spent preparing with teacher Mike Weddle, and field support during the beach visit. CoastWatch shared deep appreciation for NAME’s contribution, noting how essential this support is for helping educators bring coastal monitoring and community science to life for their students.

Thinking About Your Own Mini-Grant Project?

These three projects reflect the range of what a NAME mini-grant can do—from outfitting a classroom with new technology, to building shareable regional resources, to empowering students to contribute real data to national monitoring programs.

If you have an idea for an educational project, workshop, or activity that promotes the value and care of our water resources and highlights NAME’s work, we encourage you to apply.

NAME Mini-Grants are available to current members in amounts from $50 to $350, with applications due each year by November 15 and May 15. For more information and to apply, please see our website.

We can’t wait to see what you’ll do next!