OAK HILL, W.Va. (WVDN) — Gov. Patrick Morrisey and Secretary of Tourism Kayla Kessinger unveiled ‘Mountain Moves’ at Oak Hill Middle School on Monday, a new educational board game designed to engage eighth-grade students in West Virginia history, tourism and career opportunities.
“West Virginia has an incredible story to tell, and our students are the next chapter of that story,” said Governor Morrisey. “Mountain Moves gives students a fun, interactive way to learn about the history, communities and attractions that make our state special while also introducing them to the many career opportunities available right here in West Virginia.”
At Oak Hill Middle School, Governor Morrisey presented copies to three West Virginia teachers who teach history. In the coming months, the game will be shipped out to West Virginia history teachers across the state.
Inspired by the classic Game of Life, ‘Mountain Moves’ is a two to six player game that combines trivia, strategy and career exploration. Players are assigned careers connected to the tourism industry and advance through the game by answering questions about West Virginia history and tourism.
During the event, Morrisey also challenged students with trivia questions featured in Mountain Moves and asked them to share what they hope to be when they grow up.
The governor highlighted his administration’s Tourism Works program, a microcredentialing program that helps connect students with career pathways and opportunities in tourism and hospitality, industries facing significant workforce needs across the state.
Secretary 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,” Secretary Kessinger said. “Mountain Moves gives students an opportunity to learn about West Virginia while seeing themselves as part of the future of our tourism industry.”
Governor 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,” said Governor Morrisey. “It is to think about what you can accomplish tomorrow.”
