Body Walk in Desoto County: Southaven November 5, 2009

November started off strong with Body Walk traveling to Southaven Mississippi. I went to Greenbrook Elementary School where agents Carol Sicilia and Joy Anderson were waiting to help bring Body Walk to life. Shelly McLaughlin, PE teacher and organizer extroidinar, was also on hand along with many more volunteers. Together, we had the truck unloaded and the exhibit set up in record time. I was pleasantly surprised to find their gym had a carpeted floor. As far as I know, that is a first for the Body Walk exhibit.

After the morning set up, we welcomed the first group of kids that afternoon. Seeing the amazed looks, and hearing the ohhs and ahhs never gets old. The kids had been looking forward to Body Walk for a while. Many of the classes and drawn pictures, and their artwork was posted in the gym.

Heart Pictures

Teeth and Hearts

Teeth and Lungs

In addition to all the lovely drawings, posted for all to see was the walking Greenbrook Gator, who was also very glad Body Walk had come to his school. I think his big grin gave it away.

Greenbrook Gator

Body Walk is more than just an exhibit. Each child gets a work book and sticker when they finish the exhibit and each school gets a health kit to use to reinforce the information presented in the exhibit. Most schools are excited to receive a health kit, but Greenbrook was super excited. Ms. McLaughlin opened the kit right away, and for the rest of the day Monday, Organ Annie was the star attraction for all the teachers. Organ Annie and Organ Andy come in the kit, and they contain plush organs, the OrganWise Guys. The dolls are a way to show children how we have many organs inside of us, each with an important role to play in keeping our body healthy. Teachers can use Organ Annie and/or Organ Andy as part of health lessons they already plan to cover, or as part of the lesson plans included in the health kit.  The dolls are only one part of the kit. It also contains educational DVD’s, lesson plans, and hardback books. Most schools store the kit in their library to be checked out when a teacher needs it.

Body Walk works because so many people come together to make it happen. I was glad to work with such great agents and volunteers.

Jason Jones, Carol Sicilia, Joy Anderson, Bobbie White, Shelly McLaughlin

If you would like to see a video of Body Walk at Greenbrook, please check out the following link: Greenbrook.

Warren County, Vicksburg Mississippi September 29, 2009

In Warren County, Vicksburg Mississippi, this was the first thing to greet the Body Walk truck.

Hearty Welcome for Body Walk

The staff was just as friendly as their sign. Warrenton was a small enough school, all the K-5th graders got to go through the exhibit. Marcus Davis requested Body Walk to come, and he recruited lots of extension help for the set up and running of the exhibit. Thanks to Doyle, Katrina, Rocheryl, Patrick and Thelma for their fantastic Extension help.

Each school usually has a coordinator to keep the day on track. At Warrenton Elementary, Dru Holdiness was that person. As the school nurse, I was happy to work with her, and to give her the school health kit which is part of the Body Walk experience. Each kit contains an Organ Annie and Andy doll, Organwise Guys DVDs, books, lesson plans, and smaller kits specific to lungs or heart.

Many counties recruit adult volunteers, or local college students to work the stations in the Body Walk.  Another excellent choice are Allied Health students. Allied Health students are young people learning about the medical field while they are still in high school. They are usually already familiar with all of the information covered in the Body Walk thus are able to deliver it in an excited and engaging manner. The students from Vicksburg were some of the best yet.