Mia Williams and Bella Ozmar run the Auburn course.
Mia Williams and Bella Ozmar run the Auburn course.
Millwald partners with Wolf Trap
A new partnership with the Millwald Theatre established Southwest Virginia Wolf Trap, a regional affiliate that will bring arts-integrated learning experiences to early childhood classrooms beginning in spring 2027.
Young children in Wythe and Bland counties will soon have new opportunities to explore literacy, mathematics, science and other essential skills through music, movement and imaginative play, thanks to a new partnership between Millwald Theatre and the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts.
Announced Monday, Oct. 26, the partnership establishes Southwest Virginia Wolf Trap, a new regional affiliate that will bring arts-integrated learning experiences to early childhood classrooms beginning in spring 2027. The program will operate locally through the Millwald Theatre, with plans to expand services to neighboring counties in the future.
"We believe that the arts can change lives and that impact can begin at the earliest stages of a child’s cognitive development. Our partnership with Wolf Trap represents an exciting new chapter in our educational mission,” said Donnie Bales, Executive Director, Millwald Theatre and Affiliate Director, Southwest Virginia Wolf Trap. “By partnering to bring the arts directly into early education classrooms, we’re not only inspiring creativity and imagination, but also giving educators new tools to help their students thrive.”
“Every student deserves access to these opportunities and we’re proud to help make that possible across Southwest Virginia,” Bales continued. “We’re grateful to Wolf Trap for this partnership and we can’t wait to see the impact from this program.”
The partnership combines Wolf Trap's nationally established approach to early childhood education with the Millwald's longstanding commitment to enriching the cultural and educational life of Southwest Virginia.
The initiative will serve preschool, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms, introducing children to performing arts activities designed to reinforce concepts they are learning in school. Through songs, movement, musical instruments and imaginative play, children will have opportunities to engage with academic material in ways that encourage participation, curiosity and creativity.
The program also will support educators, equipping teachers with practical strategies for incorporating the arts into everyday classroom instruction.
According to Wolf Trap, its approach uses the performing arts to help young children develop foundational academic abilities alongside skills such as communication, collaboration, problem-solving and creative thinking. Rather than treating the arts as a separate subject, the model integrates artistic experiences into lessons that support existing school curricula and learning standards.
For example, movement and rhythm can help children explore mathematical patterns, while storytelling, music and imaginative play can encourage language development and strengthen literacy skills.
The partnership will extend beyond classroom residencies to include professional development opportunities for teachers and workshops that can involve families at local schools and community-based centers.
Teaching artists from Wythe and surrounding counties will undergo intensive professional training through Wolf Trap. The training is intended to prepare them to work collaboratively with classroom teachers and young children, helping educators incorporate arts-based techniques into instruction long after individual program visits conclude.
“Millwald Theatre has been a vital part of Wythe and its surrounding communities for nearly 100 years, and we’re excited to partner with them to expand their education offerings and bring dynamic, high-quality arts experiences to their local schools,” said Akua Kouyate-Tate, vice president of education at the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.
Kouyate-Tate said the partnership will help teaching artists develop the skills needed to work alongside educators and support early learning objectives through the performing arts.
The goal, she added, is to make learning more engaging and joyful for young children while giving teachers lasting skills they can continue using throughout their careers.
Wolf Trap's affiliate network now includes 28 members across the United States and Singapore. Through the Institute and its broader education programs, the foundation reaches more than 100,000 children, families and educators annually.
For the Millwald, the new affiliate represents an expansion of its educational mission beyond the stage and into the region's early childhood classrooms.
Located in downtown Wytheville, the nonprofit organization operates a restored historic theater with 512 seats. Its programming includes live music, theater, comedy and other cultural performances, alongside school programs, educational partnerships and community initiatives.
The theater has also served as a gathering place for residents and a contributor to downtown Wytheville's continued revitalization. The Wolf Trap partnership adds another avenue for the organization to make the arts accessible to children and families throughout the region.
With the initial rollout planned for Wythe and Bland counties in spring 2027, the initiative offers an opportunity to establish a regional foundation for arts-integrated early education, with neighboring communities potentially benefiting as the affiliate grows.
School representatives and others interested in scheduling a Southwest Virginia Wolf Trap residency may contact Bales through the Millwald Theatre. Additional information about the program is available at wolftrap.org/education, while information about the local theater is available at themillwald.org.
The partnership marks a new chapter for arts education in Southwest Virginia, bringing together a historic local cultural institution and an established national program around a shared goal: helping young children learn, explore and thrive through the arts.
Withers project nets grant money
The town of Wytheville received a $1.5 million share of $8.6 million in state grants awarded to 10 parks projects.
The funds earmarked for Wytheville will go toward Wytheville’s planned splash pad at Withers Park. The money can be used to install a 6,500-square-foot splash pad, build restrooms, install seating, create shade areas and improve landscaping.
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation awarded $8.6 million in grants to 10 parks and outdoor recreation projects through the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund State and Local Assistance Program, or LWCF, is a 50-50% matching reimbursement program for acquiring, developing and rehabilitating park areas.
Since 1965, more than $150 million has been invested in more than 430 projects in Virginia, such as new public parks and improved amenities. All projects must be maintained and kept open as public outdoor recreation areas in perpetuity.
AgVision program launches in region
The AgVision cost-share pilot program is designed to incentivize local producers to diversify and innovate their farming operations. Modeled after the successful AgOptions program in Western North Carolina, the program incentivizes farmers, through competitively awarded $10,000 grants, to work with Virginia Cooperative Extension and other partners to plan and implement a new agricultural practice on their farm. Up to $300,000 in funding is available to support producers in the twelve counties participating in this first year of the program. If the pilot proves successful, the Commission intends to expand this cost-share model across the entire region in 2027. This program will be administered by the Foundation for the Advancement of Southern and Southwest Virginia (FASS-VA), an independent 501(c)(3) foundation formed by the Commission to further its mission of building a robust economy across Southern and Southwest Virginia.
"The Commission has a long history of listening to our farmers and producers so that we can offer solutions that meet their needs," said TRRC Chairman, Delegate Will Morefield. "Staying at the forefront of innovation is important across our economy but many folks don't realize just how rapidly agriculture has changed, especially over the last 20 or so years. This program provides an incentive for our farmers to explore new ways to enhance their operations so that they can continue to be the backbone of our rural economy."
"VCE is excited to support Virginia Farmers by partnering on this impactful program with the Tobacco Commission," said Director of Virginia Cooperative Extension, Dr. Michael S. Gutter. "Together we will help our producers create the future of Virginia Agriculture and help make their operations more resilient."
"I am thrilled that FASS-VA was chosen to administer this creative new program," said FASS-VA Executive Director, Deb Gosney. "For the foundation, this is a great first step in terms of supporting communities across Southern and Southwest Virginia, and I can't think of a better place to start than with our family farms. Stay tuned, there is much more to come from FASS-VA in the months and years ahead."
"The best ideas for improving a farm come from those who know the land and understand the work. AgVision invests alongside our producers as they put those ideas into practice," said TRRC Executive Director, David Manley. "The Commission created FASS-VA to build partnerships like this one, and I look forward to seeing the pilot grow across the region and reach more of our farming families."
For more about AgVision, including information on how to apply, please visit the FASS-VA website at www.fassva.org. The twelve counties participating in the pilot are Grayson, Lee, Russell, Washington and Wythe in Southwest Virginia and Appomattox, Bedford, Brunswick, Campbell, Charlotte, Cumberland and Pittsylvania in Southern Virginia. Please note that applicants must operate in one or more of these twelve counties to be eligible for the program.
