Greetings!

Things are hopping at The Health Adventure!� Since the last newsletter, we've announced our plans to expand and build a new facility.� With a name change to "Momentum: Science and Health Adventure Park", a chance to expand our mission, and a site just 1 mile from downtown Asheville, we are incredibly excited about our future.� Please read below for more information about our project and a link to the new facility's website.

We also hosted an amazing fall gala.� Destinations to Adventure was held at the Dove Air hangar, a private luxury airline,�near the Asheville airport.� With a great band, amazing auction items, and about 250 guests, the event was a huge success.� Proceeds from this event support our programs and exhibits.� A special fundraiser during the event also raised $10,000 for a new exhibit entitled "Construction Junction" which will feature hands-on building activities.

"The Magic School Bus" has gone on its way to a new facility.� We now feature "From Here to There," a great exhibit on transportation by land, sea, and air.� Guests can explore ways to lift heavy weights by pulleys and levers, learn how a hovercraft works (and ride one!), move objects over different surfaces to learn about friction, sail boats, experiment with canal�locks, and more!� The exhibit has been very popular with our guests, and I hope to see you exploring sometime soon!

As we all take a moment to give thanks, I want to say a special THANK YOU to all of our dedicated volunteers.� Without you, we couldn't be here today...we couldn't offer the same level of programing to all of our guests.� Thank you for all that you do, have done, and will do for our organization.

Congratulations, Award Recipients

On November 5, we had the privilege of honoring the contributions made by some of our volunteers.� The Health Adventure presented five awards during the annual luncheon at Celine's On Broadway.

In recognition of his contributions to our 9-18 event and our fall gala, we presented a Special Services Tribute to Larry Boone.� Larry is a new volunteer who swooped in to help manhandle the fabric for decorating Pack Place during the 9-18 event, install the gearbox for the monorail car (the first piece of our new facility!), and create parking spaces at Dove Air for the fall gala.

For helping make this year's gala one of the most successful events we've ever had, Teresa Macaluso earned the Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year Award.� Teresa took on an incredible load when she volunteered to chair this event committee.� It was her hard work, enthusiasm, and dedication that helped make this event such a huge success.

In special recognition of her work over the past three years with our summer camp program, our Red Riot Party, our Retro Night Party, and three fall galas, we presented Holly Schryer with our Volunteer of the Year Award.� Holly started working with us more than three years ago as a summer camp volunteer.� She's come back to help with camp every year and also works most of our events.

If you happened to come by the Magic School Bus exhibit, you probably ran into Michelle LaRocque.� Michelle started working with us several years ago, focusing her attention on activities in the office.� After seeing what we do, she decided she wanted to work with children and is now pursuing�an education degree.� During the Magic School Bus exhibit, Michelle turned the craft station into a veritable work of art, hanging the children's artwork from the walls, bringing in her own yarn for wind socks, helping with family days, and more.� For her hard work, we presented Michelle with our Volunteer Educator of the Year Award.

This year's TAM Award, our highest volunteer honor, was presented to Bernie Arghiere.� Bernie came on board as an astronomy expert when we first started developing plans for the new facility.� He has opened his home for several events, hosted our staff at his private observatory for lessons on the stars, enthralled children during summer camps and other programs, and has taught us all about the world above us.

Congratulations to all of our award recipients, and THANK YOU for the unique contributions each of you make every day!

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer opportunities abound at The Health Adventure, and signing up is easy!� If something below interests you or if you'd like to know more about volunteering, just give me a call (254-6373 x322) or an email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Welcome to Momentum

After several years of planning, it's time to "Get Some Momentum!"� We're very excited to share our expansion project with everyone.� We'll be moving to a great site near UNCA and just a mile from the very center of downtown Asheville.� Our new site offers opportunities for outdoor educational programing, green building practices, ample parking for our guests, and a chance to really expand our mission.� It's an exciting time for us, and I hope you'll join us on our journey home...to a new adventure!

To learn more about our project and see some of our exhibit renderings, please follow the link below.