TRAVELING TRUNK PROGRAM

Trunks can be picked up from the Chehalem Cultural Center, or dropped off within Yamhill County.

We charge a $25 fee for maintenance, including replacing broken items. If cost is a barrier, please let us know! We are happy to work with you.

These trunks were created by staff member Natasha Luepke who has worked in education for over twenty years, as a camp instructor, adjunct professor, and course designer. She has taught preschoolers about dinosaurs, elementary students about art, teens about historical cooking, and college students about writing. Her MA is in Literature and Culture from Oregon State University provides a strong foundation for her work: looking for the story each object tells. Visitor Experience Manager, Natasha has been with the CCC for seven years, working closely with Galleries and Education to provide an enriching experience for visitors. 

Currently, we have two traveling trunks available: “Oregon” and “Childhood” — explore them both below and check them out for your classroom!

OREGON TRAVELING TRUNK

The Oregon Traveling Trunk is based on the curricula created by Oregon's nine federally recognized tribes through the ODE Tribal History/Shared History. Tribal educators created the lesson plans and background information included in this trunk. We have added books and objects to help bring these lessons to life. We have consulted with tribal leaders to make sure items are relevant and appropriate.

  • Oregon Trunk Topics

    • Sea otter, lamprey, and salmon life cycles and importance to indigenous culture

    • Tribal sovereignty

    • Indigenous languages

  • Oregon Trunk Lessons

    • Importance of keystone species (sea otters)

    • Water pollution

    • Animal life cycles

    • Tribal termination and restoration

  • Oregon Trunk Items

    • Real sea otter fur and seal skin

    • Replica coyote and black bear fur

    • Life-size plush salmon, lamprey, c'waam, and koptu

    • Keystone species board game

    • Contemporary baskets/weaving

    • Books by indigenous authors

TAKE A LOOK INSIDE
BORROW THE OREGON TRAVELING TRUNK

CHILDHOOD TRAVELING TRUNK

The Childhood Traveling Trunk looks at what it was like to be a kid in Yamhill County, c. 1885-1935. The lessons, activities, and objects are based on the memoirs of three former residents: President Herbert Hoover, entomologist Ralph William Macy, and author Beverly Cleary.

  • Childhood Trunk Topics

    • Analyzing primary sources

    • History of the Newberg Fire Department

    • History of the Newberg Carnegie Library

    • A typical school day over 100 years ago

    • Technology

  • Childhood Trunk Lessons

    • Making a string telephone

    • Writing directions

    • Creating comic strips

    • Designing an ideal library

  • Childhood Trunk Items

    • Antique crank telephone

    • Historical games

    • Slateboards, chalk, and erasers

    • Newspaper clippings and photos

TAKE A LOOK INSIDE
BORROW THE CHILDHOOD TRAVELING TRUNK