November 13th, 2024
Mankato – The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota (CMSM) is excited for the return of the Healthy Me exhibit, which opens November 14 at 10 AM. This innovative, interactive experience has been newly enhanced through collaboration with health professionals and early childhood experts, ensuring a fresh and engaging environment for children and caregivers.
Designed to empower children with knowledge about their bodies, health, and wellness, the Healthy Me exhibit offers an immersive journey into the world of healthcare. Children and caregivers can step into roles such as surgeon, lab technician, nurse, or patient, exploring a vibrant doctor’s office, lab, and operating room. Through hands-on activities, children and their caregivers will discover essential health topics, including public health, nutrition, and dental care. This engaging setup not only promotes healthy habits in young visitors but also provides parents with practical insights to support their family’s well-being.
Healthy Me exhibit is made possible by a powerful collaboration between Mankato Clinic Foundation and The Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic (OFC), two prominent healthcare organizations in the region. Both partners share a deep commitment to promoting health education and empowering children to explore their health and wellness through hands-on, immersive learning experiences. Support sponsors also Include Hyland Dental, Monarch Healthcare Management and Pediatric and Adolescent dentistry.
Mankato Clinic Foundation shares CMSM’s mission of making health education accessible, engaging, and impactful for children. “This exhibit inspires kiddos to learn about the body and mind through play and fun activities. My hope is the exhibit will inspire a child to become a doctor,” says Dr. Noelle Bach, pediatrician at Mankato Clinic. “Our community is so lucky to have the Children’s Museum, because it’s a place of wonder, joy, and exploration where children can thrive.”
“OFC is proud to partner with the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota and Mankato Clinic to promote the ‘Healthy Me’ exhibit”, said Dr. Scott Allen, partner at The Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic. “The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota is such a tremendous community asset, and we are excited at the thought of engaging young minds early in developing healthy habits and potentially having this exhibit serve as a gateway to inspire our next generation of health care providers.”
Further supporting this initiative, CMSM highlights the power of play as an essential learning tool. “We believe that play is a dynamic catalyst for learning,” said Heather Otto, Vice President of Operations at CMSM. “The Healthy Me exhibit invites children to explore key health concepts through engaging, hands-on activities that inspire curiosity and encourage lifelong wellness in our community.”
The Healthy Me exhibit at CMSM provides a unique and enriching environment where children can explore health topics in a welcoming, engaging space, fostering an early understanding of wellness and healthy habits.
About the Children’s Museum:
The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota is a nonprofit organization with a mission to ignite the natural curiosity of every child through the power of play in a dynamic, awe-inspiring environment. The Museum engages diverse audiences from across our region and enriches children and families with opportunities for hands-on play.
Since opening its doors in 2015, over 100,000 visitors—young and old—have visited annually. A central draw to the Museum is its interactive exhibits and a wide variety of programs, which focus on play, exploration, and ongoing education; STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) programs; theater and cultural experiences, as well as many Ag education offerings. The Children’s Museum offers daily opportunities for parents, grandparents, and caregivers to explore and play with their children in its indoor and outdoor spaces.
About the Mankato Clinic Foundation
A small, dedicated group of physicians started the Mankato Clinic Foundation in 1965, making it one of the oldest foundations in Minnesota. Since that time, the foundation has expanded its reach by funding local programs, scholarships and organizations that improve people’s health and wellness. The foundation receives the majority of its funding from Mankato Clinic physicians, along with giving by Mankato Clinic staff and the greater Mankato community.
About The Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic
Since 1957, The Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic has been the leader in the region, offering comprehensive orthopedic services. With a team of board-certified surgeons and specialists, OFC provides expert care in surgery, physical therapy, and sports medicine. Repeatedly recognized for its commitment to excellence, OFC continues to set the standard for orthopedic care in Minnesota.