ANNUAL REPORT - University of Michigan

GO BLUE DISCOVER GREEN
In the summer of 2007 a call came in from teachers at UM’s C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital;
they were organizing a summer enrichment program for patients and siblings and needed our
help incorporating a nature component into the program. We’d had previous conversations
about possible ways to engage families at Mott with the Arboretum. This presented the perfect
opportunity. After an initial meeting between the hospital teachers and our education staff and
interns, we were ready to go with an outdoor program. When the weather didn’t cooperate, we took
our plans inside. Encouraging the summer education interns to think creatively, we began taking the
concept of bringing nature study inside to the patients and their siblings.
A big obstacle to our nature program was that
we couldn’t really bring nature indoors – there
would be too many risks for the hospitalized
children with items that couldn’t be sanitized.
The MBGNA education interns put their
combined artistic talents, their love for nature,
and their desire to help children learn and grow
to work in order to create nature games and
crafts to bring to the hospital activity rooms.
One of the most imaginative activities the
interns created was a set of cards with
botanical and zoological images, used to play
many games like Memory or Poison Ivy. For
several months, interns made bi-weekly trips
to the hospital to bring a little nature inside.
Everyone – patients, parents and interns –
enjoyed the program.
“Go Blue Discover Green started as just a
summer enrichment program, but it soon
became so much more,” said Mary Plato,
Mott Hospital teacher. Summer ended as did
the summer enrichment program. But the
knowledge that this was a good partnership
lingered. A few emails, phone calls and
meetings through the fall led to a new
collaboration: this time the Go Blue Discover
Green program would operate with university
student volunteers. Coordinated by education
staff, the program resumed early in 2008.
Students were recruited and trained and the
program instituted a bi-weekly schedule with
20 volunteers.
The program has accomplished more than
we ever hoped, and the educational value of
the program proved to be only one of many
benefits. The personal relationships that
developed between students and patients
were greatly valued by both parties. Erin
Allen, one of the initial interns and the
program assistant for the winter, explained,
“I really enjoyed spending time with the kids
at Mott Children’s Hospital. They always
looked forward to my visit and were excited
to see me when I came.” Likewise, Mott
staff told us the children could sense the
genuine care and concern our interns and
students felt for each of them. The children
constantly buzzed about the program as
they waited for it to begin.
“The program was a great diversion and
distraction for our patients,” Mary Plato
explained. “The games were everyone’s
favorite. They loved playing them with the
students each week. This program really
offered something new and unique. The
students were so dedicated and loyal,
really top notch, and I loved that Go Blue
Discover Green added something pleasant
to the hospital experience for each child.”
This program really
offered something
new and unique.
The students were
so dedicated and
loyal, really top
notch, and I loved
that Go Blue
Discover Green
added something
pleasant to the
hospital experience
for each child.
MARY PLATO
Teacher at Mott Hospital