What does it mean to “Catch the King?” The” King Tide” is the highest tide of the year. Through the process of collecting data on these tides, scientists are able to generate the future average water levels.
The 2017 “Catch the King” event in Hampton Roads, is believed to have been the world’s largest-ever King Tide crowdsourcing event, attracting more than 500 volunteers who collected 1,100 photos and 53,000 GPS data points all in the name of environmental stewardship.
Who can get involved? You, your classmates, friends, and neighbors.
WHRO is offering $500.00 stipends to as many as 50 high school classes to participate in the “Flood Mapping -- Building Resilience in Our Communities project-- an initiative to map flooding on school campuses and neighborhoods – during the 2018-2019 school year. Teachers who are interested in participating can fill out the application at http://education.whro.org/kingtide/application. The final application deadline is September 15, 2018, but please don’t wait. Participants will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis and we will make participation decisions as applications are received, starting today. Stipends are available to any class in any of the public school divisions that own WHRO. Preference will be given to Title 1 schools. For more information, please visit http://education.whro.org/kingtide/faq.
Other opportunities to get involved include “King Tide Mappers,” volunteers who, on the day of the Tide, actively track the King via the free “King Tide” App for Apple and Android devices. Likewise, those interested may sign up to be “King Tide Captains,” individuals who will lead and aid in the training of small groups of mappers.
If you want to get involved but are unavailable the morning of October 27, “Tide Watcher” might be the designation for you. “Tide Watchers” are designated as such, because they are tasked with measuring and recording flooding trouble spots in Hampton Roads throughout the year.
For more information on volunteering opportunities go to https://whro.org/kingtide.
Where do I sign up? Various tidal hotspots have been identified throughout your community and can be located on the “King Tide” site. Likewise, information on signing up to volunteer as well as training dates have already scheduled throughout the area.
When does the King arrive? The “King Tide” will take place on the morning of Saturday, October 27.
Why Tracking the tides, especially the King Tide, helps to estimate future sea level rise and the effects it will have on our community.
How do I become a part of the movement? To find out more information about “Catching the King,” visit http://kingtide.whro.org/.