Program Overview

Living History at Waskowitz Outdoor Education Center

Bringing Washington’s Past to Life — Hands-On Learning for 4th Graders

Waskowitz Outdoor Education Center’s Living History program offers 4th-grade students an immersive, hands-on experience exploring life in Washington Territory during the mid-1800s.

Designed to support classroom curriculum, Living History brings the past to life through engaging, interactive activities that foster curiosity, teamwork, and critical thinking. Guided by our experienced outdoor education staff, students step back in time to explore the impacts of Western expansion on Native cultures, the environment, and daily life in early Washington.

What Students Experience

Throughout their day at Waskowitz, students rotate through hands-on learning stations, participating in tasks that reflect the challenges and innovations of the era. Activities include:

• Constructing homesteads
• Building sections of a railroad track and carving a canoe
• Identifying native plants and their traditional uses
• Using authentic logging tools

These activities give students the opportunity to physically engage with history — deepening their understanding of life in the 1800s and creating lasting memories that extend far beyond the classroom.

Connecting Learning to Curriculum

Teachers consistently share how the Living History program directly supports their classroom units on Washington state history, including Since Time Immemorial. Following the field trip, many students reflect on their experience through writing assignments such as journal entries imagining life as a child in 1885 — bringing their hands-on learning full circle.

Start Your Adventure

Program Costs

• $35 per student
• $15 per teacher
• Teachers are free

Contact Information 

Meredith von Trapp - Director

Email: meredith.vontrapp@highlineschools.org

Phone: 425-888-0681

Location: 45505 SE 150th St. North Bend, WA 98045