Few things are better than a well-told story, and no one preserves the well-told stories of our local history better than the Wayne County Historical Society. These stories are intended to be passed on to younger generation. What better way to do just than then to establish The Young Historians – a student-centered history club at the Wayne County Historical Society in Wooster!

THE YOUNG HISTORIANS History Club is designed to promote the study and preservation of Wayne County’s rich history is it intertwines with the many chapters of state and national history.

What role did citizens of Wayne County play in the War of 1812, the women’s suffrage movement, the Civil War, WWI, the development of the Atomic Bomb, or the Civil Rights movement? By engaging the youth of Wayne County with the story of their county and their active role within the pages of American History, the Wayne County Historical Society deepens its mission of passing on and preserving our past.

THE YOUNG HISTORIANS History Club is designed for two specific groups of students: first to all 4th – 8th grade students, and second to all High School students. This page focuses on the 4th – 8th grade students. The objectives of the club are listed below and are directly connected to the standard for Social Studies as set by the Ohio Department of Education.

Objective and goal of THE YOUNG HISTORIANS History Club: To promote the study of Wayne County History to the youth of Wayne County, to encourage students to engage with the study of their past as well as the retelling of the story of Wayne County, and to guide students, through their active participation in the many aspects of museum work, into careers and field of study in history.

The Ohio Department of Education has provided the grade level standards for Social Studies, as listed below. Membership in THE YOUNG HISTORIANS History Club is available to students in 4th through 8th grade, and divided into two specific sections, one for younger students and the other for high school students.

Membership in THE YOUNG HISTORIANS: (4th – 8th Grade)

  • Students must register to become a member of The Young Historians. This can be done at any of the monthly meetings held at the Schoolhouse on the campus of the Wayne County Historical Society, 546 E Bowman St, Wooster, Ohio 44691.
  • Students can join at any time of the year.
  • There is no cost for membership in The Young Historians.

Membership Benefits:

Each student member will receive one (1) Young Historians history club t-shirt with the official club logo on the front and a historic quote on the back. Student members will receive a family pass to the Wayne County Historical Society good for the duration of the given school year in which they are participating. All participants who complete the requirements will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the school year.

Activities for the Young Historians:

Engage in several history camps throughout the year. These will be both one-day Saturday events in the spring and fall/winter, as well as a week-long summer camp in late June. All events will be on the W.C.H.S.’s campus and will be held in a variety of buildings on the site depending upon the topic of the camp. Attend a summer picnic and participate in a historic baseball game in late June. (Possibly at the ballfield at the old Beall Avenue elementary school?)

Create new museum displays for the Schoolhouse. These will be tri-fold board style displays and will center on the yearly theme of Ohio & Wayne County.

Interact with historians and professionals in the museum field.

The Young Historians Participant Requirements:

Student members must participate in one (1) spring history day (camp), one (1) summer history camp (week-long), and one (1) fall/winter history day activity. The spring, fall, and winter activities will be held on a Saturday. The summer activity will be a summer camp held at the Wayne County Historical Society in late June.

Student members are required to study one component of Ohio or Wayne County History each year. Themes will be provided to guide your study. Students will design a grade-level activity to take with them back to their school to present to their teachers and classmates to encourage others in the study of History.

Create a display for a Wayne County History Day competition focusing on one aspect of Ohio/Wayne County History. The displays will follow similar requirements to the National History Day Competition, and the entries will be judged by professional staff members of the W.C.H.S. as well as the high school members of the club. Awards will be given to the best displays.

Opportunities Provided to The Young Historians:

Students can track down key items of importance in the museum, identify the objects, note their location in the museum, and write a brief description of the object. Completed scavenger hunt forms are awarded prizes! Different scavenger hunts will be available during different seasons of the year.

W.C.H.S. History Competition Students have the opportunity to participate in the W.C.H.S. History Competition. This provides all students with research, writing, and presentation skills.

Afterschool Trivia! Gather your friends to join in on a fun round of History Trivia held once a month in the Schoolhouse at the Wayne County Historical Society. Snacks provided and prizes given to the winning team.

Events Calendar: