Staunton: Bessie Weller, VSDB among schools recognized by Virginia Naturally

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources honors schools that work to include environmental literacy in their curricula through the Virginia Naturally School Recognition Program.

As the Commonwealth’s official environmental education school recognition program, DWR’s Virginia Naturally School Program honors exemplary efforts undertaken to increase environmental awareness and stewardship among K-12 students. Environmental education efforts also support the Virginia Department of Education’s Profile of a Virginia Graduate by developing students’ communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creative thinking and civic responsibility.

Among the 91 schools in 31 school systems recognized for their efforts in the 2024-2025 school year were Bessie Weller Elementary School and the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind in Staunton, Glenvar High School in Roanoke, and John Wayland and Linville-Edom elementary schools in Rockingham County.

Schools were evaluated based on two criteria:
Authentic, hands-on, real-world learning that takes place in the classroom, emphasizes environmental/sustainable education and includes civic engagement and/or STEM connections.
Learning that expands beyond the classroom setting (often referred to as meaningful field experiences) to connect back to what students are learning in the classroom.

A record-breaking number of schools were recognized in 2025 since the program’s inception in 2000. Of the 91 schools, 37 were recognized for the first time. The remaining schools received repeated recognition for continued progression in their programs including three schools that earned their 24th year of recognition. Combined, the Virginia Naturally schools had close to 62,000 students participate during the last school year which will increase environmental awareness and stewardship across the Commonwealth.

If your school has been working to include education about the environment in the curricula, DWR encourages applying for the Virginia Naturally School Recognition Program next spring. As a not one-time award, Virginia Naturally is one upon which schools may build and achieve additional recognitions each year.

More information is available online.