Marquette Senior High School Students Take on the Great Hospital Adventure Puppet Program

The Northern Area Health Education Center recently trained forty-five Marquette Senior High School (MSHS) health occupation students on presenting the Great Hospital Adventure puppet program to K-3 students in the their district. 

The program is used to educate children ages 4-9 about healthy lifestyles and careers in healthcare.  It features six health career puppets – a Physical Therapist, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, a Radiological Technician, an Emergency Medical Technician, a Medical Doctor, and a Nurse.  The program highlights these careers and utilizes the diverse puppets to expose children to 9-1-1 and healthy choices.  Through the use of grant funds, Marquette's school district was able to purchase their own set of puppets for the shows.

According to Ronda Manninen, the Health Occupations teacher for Marquette Senior High School, "The health occupations students will be using their knowledge, skills and experience to become involved in their community and develop a sense of pride in health care professions.  These puppet shows represent a local community service that we chose to become involved in. The puppets represent a chance to communicate with youth about hospitals, health care careers, and healthy behaviors."  The health occupation students will be presenting the program to Marquette Elementary students in the upcoming months.  

Northern AHEC and the Marquette Senior High School HOSA Students during a training of the Great Hospital Adventure.  Pictured left to right Angela Mason-Epper, Amanda Smith, Doug Baker, Erik Christiansen, Andy Peterson, and Carolyn Weissbach.

The Puppets Travel to Iron River, Michigan

The Iron River Elementary students were able to experience the Great Hospital Adventure when Northern AHEC visited their school in September.  150 second and third graders were able to learn about the many health careers.  Adam Whittington, a middle school student from Ishpeming, Michigan, also helped facilitate the program.  Acting as a "future physician", Whittington addressed the elementary student's questions about classes he would need to take to prepare for a career in health.  Northern AHEC has given the program to over 900 students in Northern Michigan since starting the program last Fall.

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