Award-winning Class Finishing Fifth Year

It was no joke when our Trails Across Time Living History Immersion Program teacher Elaine Butler traveled to Salem on April 1st. The occasion was the Willamette Heritage Center’s annual Heritage Awards Banquet. The Education award had four deserving nominees, but the Philip Foster Farm’s “schoolmarm” was its winner.

The award recognizes programs, projects and other endeavors that have provided high quality history-focused educational opportunities to area residents for any age group or a wide range of age groups.

Other nominees were Tammy Wild of the Keizer Heritage Center, Phyllis Quanbeck of the Children’s Educational Theatre, and the Yamhill County Historical Society & Museum. 

The award was presented by WHC’s education coordinator, Kathleen Schulte. Although it is unusual for a winner to be located so far away from Salem, Trails Across Time (TAT) attracts students from the Salem area, who consider the trip worthwhile for the unique program offered.

Trails Across Time middle and high school students work together each year in an accredited school program that gives them both academic skills and real-world experience in public speaking, customer service, and non-profit management. The program is a collaborative venture between the Philip Foster Farm and Summit Learning Charter, which provides online and in-person classes for K-12 students in Oregon.

Enrollment for the 2016-17 school year will open in May, and is limited.