Blue Mountain Health System hosted the 22nd annual Children's Health Fair Friday, May 20 at the Lehighton Recreation Center. This year's theme was "Pennsylvania Vacation Destinations."

Kindergarten, first and second grade students from five elementary schools in Carbon County were in attendance to learn about health and safety issues.The elementary schoolers rotated through 12 different stations and learned about many different things such as the importance of exercise and how to properly wash their hands."Our goal is to create awareness of, and educate students on, a variety of health and safety issues in an attempt to reinforce healthy habits and behaviors. In addition, we want it to be interactive and fun," said Mary Lou McGeehan, community education coordinator at Blue Mountain Health System.Students enjoyed going through the obstacle course at the Rehabilitation Services station. Students got to explore popular Gettysburg attractions such as Little Round Top and the Devil's Den as they went through the course.Penn State Master Gardeners hosted another exciting station that featured ash trees and a giant Emerald Ash Borer in a car. The bug asked the students if he could eat objects made of ash wood such as baseball bats and oars. The children responded with a chorus of "No!" and one student replied, "You can't eat anything!"Another station, run by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, taught students about sun safety. Merry Mermaid, a puppet, told the students that it is important that they protect themselves from the sun. Students were told to wear hats, sunscreen and sunglasses to stay safe during the summer.Other organizations and activities at the event included: AmeriHealth Mercy, activities for a healthy heart; Penn State Cooperative Extension, animal safety; Carbon County Drug and Alcohol, dangers of cigarettes; Health Works, being active keeps you healthy; Emergency Services, dangers of strangers; Black Lung Coalition, mine safety; Nutritional Services, healthy eating and Carbon County Technical Institute, handwashing.