Hippoie Creek Helps UNC Children's Patients Play, Learn

Wonder Connection, a program that connects the NC Botanical Gardens with UNC Children’s, is known for its innovative techniques that let hospital patients participate in hands-on natural science activities.

Last summer, Wonder Connection introduced the WonderSphere, a sealed dome that allows kids to touch and interact with plants and soil with special attached gloves, so they don’t risk infection.

But, as of Wednesday, kids get to play and learn with something new, Hippoie Creek. It was named after a former patient’s favorite stuffed animal, after the patient helped come up with the design. Wonder Connection Program Manager Katie Stoudemire said this creek is special because it’s easily cleanable and portable.

The sand used to make Hippoie Creek is from Meeting of the Waters Creek in Chapel Hill. It’s covered with proxy for easy clean-up. Photo via Steph Beckett.

“It was important to us that the design enabled kids to feel like they were really playing in a creek from their hospital bed,” she said.

The creek sits on a cart that can easily be wheeled to let a patient play from their hospital bed. It has sand from Meeting of the Waters Creek, but the sand is covered with proxy, so while it looks real, it can be wiped down between uses. It also has special rocks, replicas of animals and insects and running water.

Stoudemire said the water is filtered, and it can be easily pumped out and replenished so that the kids who play don’t share germs.

“We have a reservoir of water, and the water is pumped out of the reservoir,” she said. “It goes through a UV filter, which purifies the water, and a particle filter, so that way we can make sure there isn’t anything in the water that can make the kid sick, then it gets pumped up to the top of the creek, flows through the creek, and back down into the reservoir.”

Ten-year-old UNC Children’s patient Taylon Morrison is a science ambassador for Wonder Connection, and has already gotten the chance to play with Hippoie Creek. He said he likes it because it allows him to learn about the animals that he plays with, like the otter.

Taylon Morrison plays with the different animal replicas in Hippoie Creek. Photo via Steph Beckett.

“When it swims, it can swim very fast,” he said. “…in a race against a piranha, it will probably beat it, and it’s skinny.”

Stoudemire said she aims the lessons that go with the creek based on what each child gravitates toward when playing, to give them as many choices as possible in a time where they don’t get to make many.

“You know, Taylon could probably spend another two hours doing this,” she said. “He’s not thinking about having surgery tomorrow. He’s thinking about what can he do next with that. And that’s what we’re going for.”

To learn more about Wonder Connection and how to get involved or volunteer, click here.

Hippoie Creek Helps UNC Children’s Patients Play, Learn

On Air Now: 97.9 FM