WASHINGTON CO. STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT LOCAL HISTORY AT YOUTH CAMP
Local children had the opportunity last week to get hands-on with Texas history at the Washington County Historical Commission’s annual “Gone to Texas” Youth History Camp.
Children spent the week visiting and learning about Independence Hall, Barrington Farm, the old Washington townsite and San Felipe de Austin.
The program was started six years ago through a partnership between the Historical Commission, the Boys and Girls Club of Washington County and the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site. Tom Stevens, past chair of the Historical Commission, said Washington-on-the-Brazos is something truly unique that these children have access to, and that this collaboration goes a long way toward giving those children a greater appreciation of history.
The program has not only acted as a way to reinforce what students learn in the classroom, but also pass on a legacy of their own. One of the activities had students planting saplings that came from the nearly 200-year-old La Bahia pecan tree, something that Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Shawn Koonce said helps them further know the importance of their roots in the community.
Historical Commission Chair Sharlie Douglass thanked the staff of the Texas Historical Commission and Washington-on-the-Brazos for making this memorable and fulfilling experience possible.
(left) of the Texas Historical Commission and
Washington County Commissioner Kirk Hanath, holds a
certificate of completion for the "Gone to Texas" Youth
History Camp.
The camp concluded on Friday with a luncheon at the Washington-on-the-Brazos Conference Center, recognizing the sponsors and presenting certificates of completion to the campers.