Last month, Indiana State University’s Department of Applied Medicine and Rehabilitation (AMR) partnered with Vigo County School Corporation’s (VCSC) University Connections program and the Coordinated Health Program (CHP) to deliver engaging nutrition education and public health learning experiences to over 300 VCSC students in grades 2–5.
Dr. Madison Schmidt from AMR and CHP led two full days of interactive nutrition education, teaching students where different fruits and vegetables are grown — in the ground, at ground level, or in trees. Students also learned how essential public health is to our daily lives and completed a fun scavenger hunt while exploring Indiana State University’s campus during their two-week program.
A highlight of the experience was students’ hands-on time in Indiana State’s Foods Lab in the Health and Human Services building. Each week, students participated in food demonstrations and enjoyed making healthy recipes like strawberry-banana smoothies and cucumber rounds with red pepper hummus and tomatoes.
Dr. Madison Schmidt expressed special thanks to several collaborators from both Indiana State University and VCSC who helped bring the program to life through their dedication and teamwork to create this meaningful experience for VCSC’s 2nd through 5th-grade students.
“We are grateful for this strong partnership between Indiana State University and VCSC — working together to inspire healthy choices and connect students with real-life learning opportunities!”