OHC reaching out to Students

The Oconee Heritage Center is reaching out to students in an effort to connect the next generation with the past.  The museum on Brown’s Square Drive in downtown Walhalla celebrates the county’s unique history.  Oconee Heritage Center curator and director Leslie White tells about the museum’s efforts to attract a younger audience. “We have really worked hard to bring more school groups to the Oconee Heritage Center as well as to bring more of us to them.  We are working on traveling trunks.  If teachers are interested in renting a trunk themed, currently we have one available for textile mill history.  It has artifacts and lesson plans in it that you can use.  All sorts of great materials that come to you or you can bring your classes to us.  We can accommodate fairly large numbers; we try to accommodate any needs.” On Thursday, fourth grade students from Westminster and Tamassee-Salem Elementary Schools toured the museum, explains White.  “Fourth grade right now has been really popular.  Our efforts line up with their curriculum a little bit better.  We give them a little something hands on, sometimes we do a geography activity or other interactive activity in our classroom space and then we take them through the museum.  We show them the canoes and all the exciting parts of history that apple to kids their age and what they are learning about in school.  They always have a good time and a lot of them come back with their parents.  So, if your kid comes bragging about it, come on back.” Hours of operation at the Oconee Heritage Center are Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 6pm and Saturdays from 10am to 3pm.  The museum is free to attend.  Learn more at www.oconeeheritagecenter.org.