Exploration Place to Open $1.5 Million Health Exhibit

WICHITA, Kansas — Exploration Place, the Sedgwick County Science and Discovery Center, is unveiling Health Inside Out, a state-of-the-art permanent exhibit that encourages health education and health care workforce development.

More than three years in the making, the 3,500-square-foot, $1.5 million addition includes 16 hands-on interactive experiences, including:

• Whack-a-Virus – a pandemic-inspired version of Whack-a-Mole
• Emotional Roller Coaster – a motion-based simulator exploring mental health themes
• Health Heroes – educational play inside a real EMS helicopter (donated by Bell)
• Skeleton Mirror – an augmented reality look at your own skeleton
• What’s My Job? – a wheel of fortune encouraging health care career exploration
• Operation – a life-sized version of the classic children’s game
• Nutrition Skee-ball – where points are scored for healthy eating
• That’s Too Loud – an interactive scream booth that teaches hearing protection
• Giant Eye – where guests control the movement of a 6-foot diameter eyeball
• Everybody Move – an augmented reality game encouraging exercise and heart health

According to America’s Health Rankings, Kansas has experienced the largest decline in national health rankings of any state in the past 30 years. From the eighth healthiest state in 1991, Kansas was ranked just 29th in 2021. Health Inside Out aims to reverse this trend by promoting healthy behaviors and helping prepare the health care workforce of tomorrow.

“We want to inspire a fascination with the human body in people of all ages,” said Adam Smith, president and CEO of Exploration Place. “And what better way to do it than through the kind of fun, interactive, science-based exhibits that are the signature of Exploration Place?”

The presenting sponsor of Health Inside Out is the University of Kansas School of MedicineWichita.
“Helping our youth and their families learn how their bodies work and maintain a healthy lifestyle is very important to our educational mission at KU School of Medicine-Wichita,” said Garold Minns, M.D., dean, KU School of Medicine-Wichita. “In the process, we hope some youngsters will become interested in various health care careers.”

The exhibit was also made possible with the generous support of more than 50 donors, including the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation, Bell, Delta Dental of Kansas, Don & Lora Barry, Envision, the Kansas Health Foundation, the Star Charitable Foundation, Drs. Mark & Kathy Melhorn, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Foundation and the Riverside Health Foundation. Additional supporters include Phil & Judy Frick, Dr. Deborah Haynes & Dr. Larry Beamer, The Fidelity Bank Foundation, Cargill Cares, Dr. Dennis & Ann Ross, an anonymous fund at the Wichita Community Foundation, the Downing Family Foundation, Beach Family Foundation, Skyward Credit Union, UnitedHealthcare and the Lattner Family Foundation.

Lt. Gov. David Toland will officially unveil Health Inside Out at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19, at Exploration Place, with an opportunity for photos and video. Health Inside Out opens to the public on April 20.

Contact

Laura Roddy, Chief Advancement Officer

316-660-0602

About Exploration Place

The mission of Exploration Place, Kansas’ premier science center, is to inspire a deeper interest in science and technology through creative and fun experiences for all. Exploration Place is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and through 8 p.m. on Thursday evenings.