Small Steps to Change the World
"FLIPPY" the WHALE
Teaching people about the Plastic Pollution
The Story of Flippy the Whale
In 2019, a sad news report caught the attention of Shenandoah Green. A young, 15-foot whale washed ashore in the Philippines. The young whale had eaten plastic trash floating in the ocean, probably thinking it was jellyfish or other food until there was no room left in its stomach for real food. It starved to death with 88 pounds of plastic in its stomach. Shenandoah Green was already concerned about single-use plastic and wanted a way to help people understand what our trash was doing to the ocean. The idea of a sculpture the size of the Philippines’ whale that could visit schools and events was born.
The Virginia Military Institute engineering department built a 15-foot wire whale sculpture for Shenandoah Green that could be put on a trailer and towed to different places to make educational visits. The first trip was to Bessie Weller Elementary in Staunton, Virginia. The children brought plastic trash that was used in their homes to school. They put their plastic into the whale to illustrate where our discarded plastic ends up. Then they came up with ways to cut back on single-use plastic. The students christened the whale sculpture “Flippy.”
We hope Flippy will inspire you to S.W.A.P.—Save Whales. Avoid Plastic!
Financially supported by Tonya Sivinski/State Farm
Sunspots Studios Glassblowing
Flippy's Migrations
2023 -
March - Wenonah Elementary
April - Riverfest, Waynesboro
June - Waynesboro Library
July - Churchville Library
November - Blue Ridge Children's Museum, Waynesboro
- Staunton Christmas Parade
December - Staunton Celebration of Lights, Gypsy Hill Park
2022 -
June - Ware Elementary Environmental Club
Draft Days, Stuarts Draft
November - Blue Ridge Children's Museum, Waynesboro
Staunton Christmas Parade
2021 -
March 19-28 Rockbridge Area Schools
April 1-24 Earth Day Staunton, Sunspots Pavilion
April 25 Highland Co High School
December - Staunton Christmas Parade
2020 -
Jan. 6-13 Wayne Hill Center, Waynesboro
Jan. 20-27 Staunton High School, Staunton
Jan. 27-Feb. 3 Staunton Montessori School, Fishersville
Feb. 3-10 Shelburne Middle School, Staunton
Feb. 10-17 Wilson Elementary School, Augusta County
Feb. 17-24 Wilson Middle School, Augusta County
Feb. 24-29 McSwain Elementary School, Staunton
March 9-14 Clymore Elementary School, Ft. Defiance
(MARCH-OCTOBER 2020 COVID CLOSURES)
Oct. 31 EarthTober Celebration, Staunton - Sunspots Pavilion
Nov. 1-7 Tye River Elementary, Nelson County Schools
Nov. 8-14 Nelson County Middle & High School
Nov. 15-22 Rockfish River Elem., Nelson Co.
Nov. 22-Dec. 2 Rockfish Valley Foundation Spruce Creek Park Natural
History Center, Nelson County
2019 -
Nov. 4-8 Bessie Weller Elementary School, Staunton
Nov. 11-15 Ware Elementary School, Staunton
Nov. 18-22 Stuart Hall main campus, Staunton
Nov. 25-Dec. 2 Wilson Memorial High School, Augusta County
Dec. 2 Staunton Christmas Parade
Dec. 2-7 Berkeley Glenn Elementary School, Waynesboro
Dec. 7 Waynesboro Christmas Parade
Dec. 9-16 William Perry Elementary School, Waynesboro
Dec. 16-23 Hugh Cassell Elementary School, Augusta County