Radio Station Field Trip 69 - WLTL at Lyons Township High School

Sign at WLTL. Photo: J. Waits

I love high school radio and always look forward to visiting more stations. I’d had an open invitation for awhile from Lyons Township High School station WLTL-FM near Chicago and was glad to finally get the chance to check out the station earlier this year. It's a fascinating place, with an active staff, lengthy history, spacious digs, and some incredible pop culture artifacts.

See my complete story on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Field Trip 68 - WLOY at Loyola University Maryland

Outside of WLOY at Loyola University Maryland. Photo: J Waits

My final radio station visit during my trip to the D.C. area in April, 2014 was to see college radio station WLOY at Loyola University Maryland. I’ve known WLOY’s Operations Manager John Devecka for a few years now, so I took a quick side-trip to Baltimore in order to see the station before heading to the airport. The station was full of pop culture wonders and it also does some amazing work with local kids and teens.

You can see my full report on Radio Survivor.

Radio Station Field Trip 67 - NPR Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

NPR Headquarters. Photo: J. Waits

While visiting the Washington, D.C. area in April, I took the opportunity to visit NPR's new headquarters. Although NPR isn't technically a radio station, I made an exception for this series, since it is in the business of producing public radio programming.

Radio Station Field Trip 66 - WMUC at University of Maryland, College Park

WMUC graffiti at station. Photo: J. Waits

Back in April, I was fortunate to speak at the Saving College Radio Symposium at University of Maryland. Held in conjunction with the exhibit Saving College Radio: WMUC Past, Present and Future, the event definitely piqued my interest about University of Maryland's storied college radio station WMUC-FM. So, at the end of an fantastic day of conversation about college radio history, I ventured to the South Campus Dining Hall building to visit WMUC. The student newspaper is also located in the same building as WMUC and residence halls are nearby.

Radio Station Field Trip 65 - WRGW at George Washington University

Wall at WRGW. Photo: J. Waits

In April 2014, I had the pleasure of presenting at the Saving College Radio symposium at University of Maryland. While in the area, I took the opportunity to visit a few nearby stations, including college radio station WRGW at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Radio Station Field Trip 16.5 - WHRC at Haverford College

Old shot glass at WHRC. Photo: J. Waits

My final radio station visit while in the Philadelphia-area this April, was to see the station where it all began for me, WHRC at Haverford College. I was actually able to visit the station twice this spring, once while school was still in session on April 9 and then again during my college reunion in May, 2014.

Radio Station Field Trip 64 - WQHS at University of Pennsylvania

WQHS at University of Pennsylvania. Photo: J. Waits

On a day when it seemed impossible to visit one more station, I did just that and ventured into Philadelphia to tour University of Pennsylvania's student radio station WQHS on the night of Tuesday, April 8, 2014. The morning and afternoon were a whirlwind of visits to see stations at Villanova University, Swarthmore College, Haverford High School, and St. Joseph's University. After a short break, I headed to Philadelphia.

Radio Station Field Trip 63 - Radio 1851 at St. Joseph's University

Radio 1851 Sign on Simpson Hall at St. Joseph's University. Photo: J. Waits

During a spring trip to the Philadelphia area, I visited five radio stations in one day on April 8, 2014. In the morning, I checked out college radio stations WXVU and WSRN and in the afternoon I traveled to high school radio station WHHS before venturing to see Radio 1851 at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia.

Radio Station Field Trip 62 - WHHS at Haverford High School

WHHS Banner. Photo: J. Waits

Back in April, I visited a bunch of radio stations in the Philadelphia area during one jam-packed day. I've already written about visits to WXVU at Villanova University and WSRN at Swarthmore College. Well, on the same day (April 8th), I also ventured to see Haverford High School's radio station WHHS 99.9 FM in Havertown, Pennsylvania.

Radio Station Field Trip 61 - WRBB at Northeastern University

Another "Leo" sign. WRBB Lobby. Photo: J. Waits

During my crazy day of radio station visits in Boston and Cambridge on August 6th, my final stop was WRBB 104.9 FM at Northeastern University. I was particularly interested in visiting because my niece Liz Alverson used to DJ there (and another niece started the training program too). I remember listening to her first show and feeling so giddy and proud that perhaps my fanaticism over college radio had spread to her. I think I told her something along the lines of, "this will change your life."

Radio Station Field Trip 60 - WMFO at Tufts University

Banner at WMFO

My final college radio station visit while I was in the Boston area (although I still have another visit to write up), was to WMFO 91.5 FM at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. Things were pretty quiet at the station over the summer, with many of the station staff out of town or busy with internships. I ended up visiting on the morning of Saturday, August 9th, as more people were around the station over the weekend.

Radio Station Field Trip 59 - WTBU at Boston University

Sign at WTBU. Photo: J. Waits

On August 6th, I had a great opportunity to travel through the Boston area, using public transportation to make my way to four different college radio stations. I've already written about my visits to WMBR and WHRB in Cambridge and my third visit that day was to Boston University station WTBU.

Radio Station Field Trip 58 - WHRB at Harvard University

WHRB logo on wall at station. Photo: J. Waits

During my trip to Boston earlier this month, the second station that I visited was WHRB 95.3 FM at Harvard University. I was interested to check it out for many reasons, including the fact that it's one of the handful of college radio stations that holds a commercial FM license (I've visited one other - WPGU in Champaign, IL). As it turns out, it was one of my more surprising station field trips, as WHRB has many different, diverse identities.

Radio Station Field Trip 57 - WMBR at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mural at WMBR. Photo: J. Waits

While on a family vacation to Boston a couple of weeks ago, I took the opportunity to schedule visits to four college radio stations in the area. My frenetic tour began on Wednesday, August 6th with a trip to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) station WMBR 88.1 FM.

Radio Station Field Trip 56 - WSRN at Swarthmore College

Old Equipment at WSRN. Photo: J. Waits

Back in April, I had a hectic day full of radio station visits in the Philadelphia area. I've already written about my first stop at Villanova University station WXVU. Following that visit, I traveled to Swarthmore College radio station WSRN 91.5 FM.

Radio Station Field Trip 24.5 - Radio Valencia in San Francisco

Radio Valencia Banner. Photo: J Waits

This summer, I decided that it was time to do a string of radio station visits in San Francisco. I recently wrote up my visits to KPOO, Mutiny Radio, and BFF.fm and in light of those field trips, I knew it was time to finally see Radio Valencia's new digs. Although I'd visited the station when it launched in 2010, it moved into a more central location in the Mission District two years ago.

Radio Station Field Trip 55 - BFF.fm in San Francisco

Sign in BFF.fm studio. Photo: J. Waits

One year ago this week, I received a message on Twitter about the impending launch of a new community radio station in San Francisco called Best Frequencies Forever. Ever since that time, I'd been hoping to visit, but wasn't able to make it until this summer. So, after following the ins and outs of the beginnings of a new station over social media, I was super intrigued to finally see the space.

Radio Station Field Trip 54 - Mutiny Radio in San Francisco

Entrance to Mutiny Radio in San Francisco. Photo: J. Waits

On June 18, 2014 I ventured to San Francisco's Mission District to visit Mutiny Radio, four years after my first visit to the space (back when it was Pirate Cat Radio). A lot has changed in that time, so it was great to have the opportunity to see what the community radio station has been up to. Mutiny's News Director (known as The Stranger) and Music Director (DJ Tanner) toured me around and caught me up on the current state of things at the station.

Radio Station Field Trip 53 - KPOO in San Francisco

KPOO entrance.  All photos by Jennifer Waits.

I've long wanted to visit community radio station KPOO 89.5 FM, aka Poor People's Radio, in San Francisco and finally received a gracious invitation to visit by DJ McSchmormac, host of the Gramophoney Baloney show. On Monday, I made my way to KPOO in order to witness McSchmormac's show and immerse myself in the world of KPOO (that's K-P-O-O for those reading this aloud).

Radio Station Field Trip 52 - WXVU at Villanova University

WXVU Banner (photo: J. Waits)

Earlier this month I had a whirlwind trip to the East Coast, in which I visited nine radio stations in addition to NPR headquarters. My most hectic day of station tours happened on Tuesday, April 8th. I started the morning with a visit to WXVU at Villanova University on the mainline of Philadelphia.

Radio Station Field Trip 51 - KCEA at Menlo-Atherton High School

Radio at KCEA (photo: J. Waits)

For many years I've been intrigued by the mysterious big band station KCEA 89.1 FM. Located at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, California, the station airs a non-stop stream of nostalgic big band music from days gone by.

Friends who grew up in the area have told me that the station charmed them decades ago with its nighttime broadcasts of ocean sounds ("sounds of the sea, thus the call letters KCEA"). A fellow DJ at KFJC recounted that when he was in high school he would study to the soothing wave sounds. Craig Roberts, who toured me around KCEA, told me that rumor has it that a local insane asylum would pipe the nighttime ocean sounds through its buildings for the patients.