Fall 2024

Whether it’s rising seas or the management of natural resources, today’s students are going to face new environmental challenges at some point during their lives. The best way to help them become informed and active community stewards is through education. For the last few years, WHRO Public Media has been incorporating environmental education into the services we provide to schools and to our local community through the Batten Environmental Education Initiative funded by Jane Batten.

This all-encompassing initiative supports the development of a wide range of educational products including new digital courses, a student-oriented video series, and an interactive mobile student lab—placing WHRO at the forefront of environmental education in Hampton Roads and throughout the Commonwealth.

While many of the resources we’ve developed are for young students, I’m excited to announce our new Environmental Science Online Course created for Virginia’s high school students. This innovative course is available free of charge to all public and private schools in Virginia as well as to all of the Commonwealth’s homeschools.

The course equips teachers with ready-to-use lessons that will save them time and provides students with hands-on learning opportunities designed to inform and challenge them.

Another new project I’m excited about is the Democracy at Work audio series and exhibit that has been created by the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO Public Media. As we race toward the upcoming presidential election, our journalists are highlighting the other people who make democracy work—public servants. Each Tuesday leading up to the election, we are featuring one of their stories on WHRV FM. They are also featured in a photo gallery exhibit at several locations around the region.

From public sector employees to community volunteers, these dedicated civil servants are working to uphold core democratic ideals including free and fair elections, the right to representation in criminal trials, the defense of the country from foreign and domestic threats, the proper care of veterans, and ensuring clean air and water, to name a few examples.

I’m so proud of the many things that WHRO has accomplished so far this year. Thank you to everyone who has donated to pledge drives, become sustaining members, volunteered at events, and supported us so generously. None of our work is possible without your ongoing support.

Bert Schmidt
President & Chief Executive Officer