New W.Va.-Themed Board Game Coming To Classrooms Across State

“Mountain Moves” is a new educational board game designed by the West Virginia Department of Tourism and West Virginia Department of Education to engage eighth-grade students in West Virginia history, tourism and career opportunities.  

Two-to-six players are assigned careers connected to the tourism industry and advance through the game by answering questions about West Virginia history and tourism.  

Gov. Patrick Morrisey was joined by Secretary of Tourism Kayla Kessinger Monday at Oak Hill Middle School to present copies to three West Virginia history teachers. The governor told students that the game will be good preparation for the compulsory eighth-grade Golden Horseshoe Test.  

“This is exciting because it’s going to bring West Virginia history to life in your classroom,” he said. “It’s going to allow you to learn all about the many counties in our state, the incredible parks that we have, the rivers, and how West Virginia has one of the richest histories in the entire world.”  

The Golden Horseshoe is a long-standing West Virginia tradition dating back to 1931 that honors eighth grade students who excel in West Virginia history. 

In the coming months the Mountain Moves game will be shipped out to West Virginia history teachers across the state.     

Kessinger joined Morrisey for the launch and emphasized the importance of introducing young West Virginians to the state’s tourism industry at an early age. 

“Tourism is about more than visiting beautiful places. It is about the people, businesses and communities that make those experiences possible,” she said. “Mountain Moves gives students an opportunity to learn about West Virginia while seeing themselves as part of the future of our tourism industry.” 

Morrisey encouraged students to use Mountain Moves as an opportunity to learn more about their home state and consider the many ways they can contribute to West Virginia’s future. 

“Your job isn’t just to learn what happened yesterday,” he said. “It is to think about what you can accomplish tomorrow.” 

The governor finished the event by challenging students with trivia questions featured in Mountain Moves and asking them to share what they hope to be when they grow up.