Photos courtesy of High Valley Community Center High Valley Community Center students search for hidden artifacts at the Rio Grande County Museum on June 24 during a scavenger hunt.

DEL NORTE — The High Valley Community Center has been busy this summer, working throughout the community of Del Norte, going on field trips and everything in between. During the last month, students with the center visited the Rio Grande County Museum and worked with Director Louise Colville to create exhibits, learn about history in the area and learned about the museum.

So far, students helped create the World War II exhibit that is on display at the museum until mid-November. The exhibit features artwork from local student Joseph Trujillo and the rest was put together by HVCC students and museum staff. Students learned about World War II while completing the exhibit.

“It has been such a pleasure to have these students coming to help us this summer. We enjoy having their enthusiasm and new ideas. They are such a huge help when they come and we are very happy to have them,” said Colville.

During their time at the museum, students learned about World War II and some of the local heroes that fought in the war, including Dr. V.V. Anderson. Anderson was one of the few who survived the 85-mile death march after being captured by the Japanese. His uniform and some of his artifacts are on display with others that called the San Luis Valley and specifically Rio Grande County home.

In addition to some of the local heroes, students also learned about the Monte Vista prisoner of war camp where captives from the war came to work for local farmers. These men spent up to two years working the fields in the San Luis Valley making sure that supplies for the war were sent overseas and some spoke about their time here as some of the best years they had ever had.

On Thursday, June 24, students from High Valley came to participate in a scavenger hunt, seeking specially picked artifacts through out the museum. Over 100 students and their chaperones came to enjoy an afternoon of fun.

Students will continue to visit the museum and will be working to create displays for future displays for the rest of the summer. The opening for the World War II exhibit is on July 10 at 10 a.m. with refreshments to follow. The museum is located at 580 Oak St., Del Norte.