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| Vol. 21, No. 14 |
| August 1, 1999 |
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If You Are Looking for Adventure, Look No Further by TINA FOSTER Texas Children's Hospital Students from Woodrow Elementary School who are looking for adventure in the medical field will get the opportunity to set their sights on Texas Children's Hospital, thanks to a new program under way in September. Texas Children's and Woodrow Elementary will participate in the Health Adventures Program, which will take place throughout the 1999-2000 school year. Health Adventures is the national program of the American Society of Directors of Volunteer Services developed in 1996 to reach out to at-risk youngsters across the country and provide them with one-on-one mentoring opportunities. "The program will make the children aware of the many different career opportunities the hospital has to offer," says Patti Noser, assistant director of volunteer services at Texas Children's Hospital. "Whether the student is interested in physical therapy or becoming a pediatric nurse, Health Adventures will serve as an opportunity to the numerous paths that can be chosen in the health care profession." Woodrow Elementary will select 15 fifth grade students to participate in the program. Each will be teamed up with a volunteer mentor from the hospital. Mentors will accompany the students throughout the program and will help them with any questions they may have while providing them with encouragement as they advance in the program. Students will have the opportunity to visit several Texas Children's departments, including medical records, nutrition and the emergency center. Each of the departments will develop a case study to illustrate what takes place in that area and students will then be able to complete activities that are prepared by their visits. "Fifth grade is an optimal time to have children get involved with activities that enhance their interest in a particular study such as science," says Agnes Armstrong, chair of the science department at Woodrow Elementary School. Currently there are 48 Health Adventures programs taking place in 25 states across the country. With more than half of the students returning to the hospital to volunteer, Health Adventures has proven to be a driving force in getting these children more involved in their communities.
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