Saint Joseph Mercy Health Exploration Station

The Saint Joseph Mercy Health Exploration Station (SJMHES) is a 3,500 square foot facility, located inside the Saint Joseph Mercy Canton Health Center, in Canton, Michigan, which is dedicated to health education. The center offers programs for pre-school through high-school students on a variety of health topics.

After opening in Fall of 1999, the SJMHES has fast become the fieldtrip destination of choice by teachers in southeastern Michigan.

Part of the National Association of Health Education Centers, the SJMHES is a non-profit program of Saint Joseph Mercy Health System. Over 400 groups representing over 15,000 students visit annually.

WHY COME?

Imagine seeing real germs grow. And crawling through a giant intestinal tract. And learning about body systems while playing a TV-style game show. These are the tools that inspire young minds to learn about health. About wellness. About making wise lifestyle choices. These are the tools of the Saint Joseph Mercy Health Exploration Station, Michigan's first interactive health education center -- one of only about 30 in the entire country.

Your group will have time to explore the Exhibit Gallery -- a giant walk-through (not to mention crawl and slide through!) of the human body filled with exhibits to engage the senses of touch, sound and sight. Kids -- and kids at heart -- will enjoy leaping, pulling and stretching in the fitness area, hearing the rhythm of their own heartbeat and testing their nutrition savvy using a touch screen.

Equally engaging will be the health presentation you select (see program descriptions). The age-appropriate programs are designed to complement -- not replace -- classroom instruction. Using a wide variety of tools and techniques, instructors will involve students, get their bodies and minds moving, play games with them and, ultimately, increase their knowledge and awareness of health in a fun and memorable way.

GOALS

The Saint Joseph Mercy Health Exploration Station has four main goals:

To empower the individuals we serve with the knowledge necessary to lead healthy lives.
To inspire the individuals we serve to make choices which have a positive impact on their lifelong health
To provide effective programs which promote physical, emotional and social well being.

HOURS

The general public is welcomed to tour the Interactive Exhibit Gallery, free of charge, on the fourth (4th) Thursday of each month from 10am-8pm September through May and 10am - 6pm June through August.

You can expect to spend 40-60 minutes for the tour.

No reservations are necessary and anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

VOLUNTEER

Volunteers are important members of the Saint Joseph Mercy Health Exploration Station team. There are a wide range of rewarding volunteer opportunities available. These include assisting instructors during classes, interacting with visitors and providing clerical support.

For more information or to become a volunteer, please call:

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital at (734) 712-4159

SUPPORT US

Tax-deductible donations from people like you really help to keep down the cost of field trips to the Saint Joseph Mercy Health Exploration Station.

Please send your donation to:

   Saint Joseph Mercy Health Exploration Station Endowment Fund (31267120)
   St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Development Department
   5305 East Huron Drive
   P.O. Box 995
   Ann Arbor, MI 48106-9736

The Saint Joseph Mercy Health Exploration Station is sponsored in part by a generous donation from Care Choices HMO, a Trinity Health Plan. Care Choices HMO and Saint Joseph Mercy Health System are members of Trinity Health.