One of the Washington County Historical Society’s major activities is providing educational programs to schools, youth groups, and parents. There are several options for learning opportunities for your students!

Field Trips and Group Visits

Pricing for Field Trips

Teachers/Chaperones

$5

Children (ages 6-17)

$2


Our Locations

Washington County Heritage Center

Our newest museum is highly interactive and an excellent hands-on learning opportunity for students of any age. The parking lot has plenty of space for busses, and the Education Center works well for large group activities.

The Washington County Heritage Center is open year-round.

Contact Site Manager Emily Krawczewski at emily.krawczewski@wchsmn.org or 651-439-2298 for more details and to set up a visit.

Need some curriculum ideas before planning your trip? We have you covered!


Hay Lake School & Erickson Log Home

Hay Lake School & Erickson Log Home

One of our most popular offerings is the turn-of-the-century school experience at Hay Lake School Museum in Scandia.

The museum is open May-October, but group visits outside of this season can be arranged.

Contact Site Manager Susan Stepka at susan.stepka@wchsmn.org or call 651-433-4014 for more details and to set up a visit.

In our century-old brick schoolhouse, elementary school children will:

  • Read and recite from 100-year-old primers
  • Work arithmetic on slate boards
  • Study geography on 19th-century maps
  • Compete in a spelling bee
  • Eat a “home-made” lunch
  • Play Victorian games at recess
  • Learn a song children sang long ago
  • Learn to write with a “quill” pen
  • Take a unique tour of a pioneer log home

For extra fun, students are encouraged to wear period costumes (think “Little House on the Prairie”!) and bring their lunches in metal cans.


Warden’s House Museum

The Warden’s House Museum provides a great opportunity for students to learn about life in late 1800s and early 1900s times. Think peacock feathers and ornate decorations!

The museum is open May-October, but group visits outside of this season can be arranged.

Contact Site Manager Heidi Heinze at heidi.heinze@wchsmn.org or call 651-439-5956 for more details and to set up a visit.


More Downloadable Curriculum

WCHS and the Arcola Mills Foundation have created two unit curriculum units for educators. They are free to download and use! We would appreciate an e-mail to information@wchsmn.org if you’re using them in classroom teaching or another educational setting.

Click on the links below to be taken to the Google Drive file where the file is available for download.

St. Croix Valley Lumbering Unit

Stillwater Interactive Biography Profiles

*A trunk containing the featured objects is available on loan for classroom use. Please contact information@wchsmn.org for more information.