Community Collaboration: Houston County History Hunt
The Houston County History Hunt was a self-paced scavenger hunt designed to get individuals and families out and exploring the historical and natural sites our area has to offer, including the five public libraries, which are accessible to everyone. 26 sites from around the county were chosen for their historical or natural importance. Families or individuals were given bags that included a map of the sites, crayons, and a book, which provided more information about each site as well as a spot in which to make a rubbing. At each site, the five libraries, along with various partners, placed a tile marker, which participants had to locate and then make a rubbing in their booklets, using their crayons.
637 participated
The project outcome goals were to increase participants' knowledge of the historical and natural sites around the county. We know this through the questions we asked on the surveys that were distributed to those who finished the Hunt. Our target audience was young families, those with children ages 6-18.
We received 53 surveys back from participants, which is way less than the number of bags we all passed out. In one column of our survey, we asked participants to check the box that corresponds to the site if they had visited it before they participated in the Hunt. The answers for this question varied widely. For example, only six people had visited the Brownsville Overlook before participating, but Como Falls had had 49 people visit it beforehand. The second column asked participants to check the box that corresponds to the site if they are likely to visit it again. Again, this had a wide range of answers. Six participants stated that they would visit Portland Prairie Methodist Episcopal Church again while 44 said they would visit Como Falls again. If I were to do this over again, I would have asked participants to check which sites they visited during this program. I also would have created an evaluation form for the sites that hosted a post to learn more about their experience.
Through participants' answers, we were able to gain a lot of insight into what they gained as a result of participating in this program. We had hoped to increase their knowledge of the sites around the county. There were many general comments about how people learned things and went to places that they never even knew existed in the county: "I learned about the history of locations that I commonly drive by without noticing. I learned it is good to get outside with the kids to see some of these neat sites, even though they were 'too hot' or 'tired' to go." There were also more specific comments about what participants learned at particular sites: "I learned of historical places in the 'neighborhood' I did not know existed. We ran into people we knew at the Stone Church and they gave us a personal tour and little oral history of the place. Very delightful experience." Best of all was a comment about the libraries: "Our family learned how great other community libraries are."
Caledonia Public Library, Hokah Public Library, Houston Public Library, La Crescent Public Library, Spring Grove Public Library, Houston County Historical Society, Houston County Government, Spring Grove Soda Pop, Inc., City of Spring Grove, City of La Crescent, Houston Nature Center, International Owl Center, Stone Church, Schech's Mill, City of Hokah