When the Indy Geek Girls asked me to head over to the Channel 13’s 2014 Health and Fitness Expo I was pretty excited! We weren’t able to make it last year and I heard really awesome things about it. Before the expo started we chatted with the news team and even got to see their helicopter (and meet long time pilot Butch Bates!)
Inside, we were greeted by a few of the Colt’s Cheerleaders and got to see just how big and how many vendors were ready for us to explore!
There was more than just health screenings! We learned a ton! And the booths were great for the whole family! At the Marian University booth they had tons of hands on activities to help teach about germs, the body and a glimpse inside the world of a doctor/nurse. Josh really loved finding the heart beats and pulse!
We also learned about proper helmet safety. Turns out that the helmet we used at home is to small! So we are off today to buy another one that fits properly.
(Want to know if your child’s helmet – or your own – fits properly? It’s a quick and easy check!)
Josh and I learned all about safety in the car. Did you know that in Indiana kids need to be in a booster seat through age 8? And that kids under 13 should be in the backseat. Or do you know the safest seat in the back for the child to sit? It’s in the middle! (As long as it has a lap belt and across the shoulder!)
We also got to learn about driving and the dangers of texting and driving. Josh got to put on the simulator glasses and ‘drive’ with and without distractions. He did fairly well! He only was caught speeding twice. But, sadly, he did run over a pedestrian. It’s a good thing we have a few more years!
At the 2 Nurses and a Dummy booth we got a quick hands on training of CPR. It’s harder than it looks! (You can find out about taking a class here!)
I promise you will not be able to guess! This hamburger from a local fast food place is 7 years old!! And it’s been sitting in a garage! YUCK! I couldn’t believe it! It goes to show the importance of clean food!
In the same booth we saw this awesome growing planter! She has everything from mustard greens to celery growing. It grows indoors (this is actually from her living room!) so she can eat fresh vegetables all year around!
There were lots of great booths around for ways that you can not only get a good workout, but that you can help out great causes. One of the booths that we stopped at was the Alliance for Lupus Research. Did you know that this organization was created by one of the founders of Johnson and Johnson? Joining the walk is free and Johnson and Johnson pay for all of the organizations costs. That way 100% of the donations that they receive can go right to lupus research! (The walk in Indianapolis is June 14. You can get more information here.)
There was lots of activities for kids! Josh played tennis not just once, but twice!
I absolutely loved the NJTL of Indianapolis! (It stands for National Junior Tennis League!) The prices are really awesome and NO child is turned away from learning and playing if they are having financial trouble. There are summer leagues so make sure to check them out! They are perfect for all levels! Get more information here.
Nine13Sports had a really awesome display! The bikes were connected to a television and you had to race your opponents! Joshua was way into it! No way was he letting any adults beat him! Nine13Sports is a nonprofit who helps bring bicycles and bicycle programs to kids! You can learn more about them here.
There were also the Colt’s football training area, obstacle courses and MORE!
We couldn’t leave without saying goodbye to Rowdie – the Indianapolis Indians’ mascot! (Check out their schedule here!)
We had so much fun at the expo! We can not wait to go again next year!
That burger looks fine to me LOL and I would totally have taken a bite 😉 It sounds like a great event. I think we need one here in Boston!
This looks like fun! Lots to do for everyone and great information. I think there are a few health expos in my area; I’ll have to check them out.
How to wear a helmet is really something more people should be trained in. I see so many falling off heads and they would be better not wearing them at all.
That growing planter for herbs is something I would love to have. I grow herbs outside, but have trouble keeping them alive indoors.
What a fun event and it’s awesome that the whole family was able to get involved together. I’ll have to see if there is something like that near me.
Kerrie Mendoza says
Wow – what an amazing about of learning for one Expo. Very cool. Love the car crash simulation and helmet safety.
Our city puts on a health & wellness expo every year as well. Our family loves attending and we can keep track of our health progress that way ( in addition to regular checkups, of course)
This even looks amazing! I wish we lived closer. He looks like a stud standing with the Colts Cheerleaders. Super cute.
What an amazing expo! I love that your son went with you. Such a great way to get excited about living healthier!
*went WITH you! Silly autocorrect!
Looks like tons of fun, and I’ll bet he NEVER forgets meeting those cheerleaders!!!
That is such an awesome event! What a great way to educate kids in a fun way about safety, health and driving safety!
I went to a similar expo out here in Atlanta. I love learning about getting healthy and fit. Looks like your son had a lot of fun!
We went to a health fair recently and had a blast. This one looks so fun too.
Wow, what a great and informational event! I can’t believe that burger was sitting there for years!!
Holy cow that is a really big racket! That is a great way to gain lots of information without having to scour all over to find it!
So many fun hands-on things to do. And you’ve got a good looking model there. 🙂
I see these kinds of events all the time but never think my kids would get anything out of them, Thanks for the eye opener
What a fun day! I really liked the tips for a bike helmet that fits properly. good to know.
I think it is great that you took your son to the health and wellness expo. They are never too young to learn how to take care of themselves.
Looks like a fun and educational day, too! Thanks for sharing!
I have heard about health and fitness expos but never attended one. I had no idea they covered so much diverse information. And that hamburger, yikes! I am also no informed that my daughter’s helmet does not fit here properly. Thanks, next expo near me, I will plan on attending.
Looks like an awesome expo! It sounds like it was really fun AND educational!
This looks fantastic! Being a nurse, I love going to things like this! I need to find out if anything like this is coming to Phoenix!
Helmet sizing is really tricky! Looks like you learned a ton!
I like the planter and how the greenery is thriving so well. Also, yikes on the wrong helmet size, but at least you found out!
Wow, there is so many interesting things at the health & fitness expo you attended! That 7 year old hamburger is just gross!! It’s crazy to think about what’s in it if it looks that good after so long.
Looks like you learned a lot and had fun! I pinned this for the helmet fitting tips.
That looks like a fabulous day for you and your family. Lots of great booths and so much information. I bet your son will remember that for a long time.
This is right up my alley I love going to health expos and love attending women xpos and almost any other type of expo it’s a great way to network with other people. I write a health blog and I think this is cool.
This looks like such a great event! It’s so important to teach kids to be healthy and active.
What a great sounding expo – sounds like they had some great tips going on as well – love that they give helmet advice. x
That looks like so much fun. Our local Y has a small expo every year and we love going.
What a great expo. I was at one in Atlanta and saw that indoor planter. That’s really cool…I think my cat would eat it, though.
What a great time. Such great information too I am sure!
We usually get a lot of expos here in Montreal but usually for things like jobs and carriers search. This would be a really fun one to have here in Montreal! I would take my son with me!
What? The hamburger was over 7 years old? Do they refrigerate it or anything?
I didn’t ask. I was honestly pretty grossed out!
Wow it sounds like there were a lot of very helpful and important demonstrations there. Your son looks like he enjoyed himself, especially with the Colts cheerleaders!
Debra says
I love the big tennis racket! And your son looked happy with the Colts Cheerleaders!
That’s somewhere I should hang out! It looks like a fun event!
What a fun event! There seemed to be a lot of useful information there. I am from Indiana too (way north) and I am not sure if we have any of these expos here, but if so, I would totally be on board with attending one!
Well hello to a fellow Hoosier! 😉
This looks like such a neat event! It looks like y’all had a great time.
I love health & fitness expos, I always find such interesting things at them. We tried that hamburger experiment at our last home in Florida. That burger sat in our garage for 3 years in the Florida heat and was unchanged. It is crazy when you realize that you eat that type of food.
Oh wow! Did you cover it to keep out bugs or animals or anything? Or were they grossed out and didn’t want it either?! It’s amazing when you think of it. Makes you realize that is NOT the kind of fuel your body needs!
What a fun event yet extremely educational! I bet your son had a blast there.
What a cool expo! I’d love to have some fun there, too 🙂
Very cool event! I am disgusted by that hamburger and fries! Ugh! I am happy to know that my son’s helmet fits properly though. 🙂
What a great expo. I need to see if we have a health expo near us. That’s crazy about the burger.
That pic of your son is awesome with the cheerleaders!!! Sounds like the expo was a success
This is awesome. I love that they help kids who need financial assistance as well.
Awesome. I’m glad you shared the diagram of fitting a helmet properly. I was uncomfortable this weekend with my daughter’s helmet and now I know ow to make sure it fits properly.
Trade shows and expos are always fun. Looks like you had a great time and love that pic of your son with the cheerleaders!
I think expos are so fun! I love meeting all the vendors and getting free swag.
That hamburger is really disgusting. It certainly makes you think! Yuck! Looks like you guys had a great time!
What an awesome expo. Healthy lifestyles begin at a young edge.
What a great expo! I would love to go this one, looks like a great place to get started with fitness .
Looks like it was a fun time (sometimes events like that can be boring for kids) but this one didn’t look boring at all. Looks like a great learning experience too.
I have seen the hamburger thing before. I always stay away from that particular fast food place. Looks like your son had fun and learned a lot.
Looks like a successful time had by all for this health expo.
This looks like a fun event! I always love events like this at the fair & stuff!
This looks like a fantastic expo. Looks like he had a ton of fun too!