‘Matters of the Heart’ returns to museum with hands-on science lab for students

WENATCHEE — On a February afternoon at the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center, a group of students will pull on gloves, gather around lab tables, and do something most classrooms can’t offer. They’re going to examine a real heart and learn how it works from the people who care for them every day.

The museum is bringing back its popular Matters of the Heart program on Feb. 14 at 1 p.m., offering students a hands-on dissection lab that pairs science education with guidance from local medical professionals.

Presented in collaboration with Confluence Health and Wenatchee Valley Medical Group, the program is open to students in fourth grade and up. Participants will explore real pig hearts in an immersive lab setting, stepping into the role of surgeons while trained medical staff guide the experience and serve as “nurses” throughout the session.

Organizers say the goal is not just to teach anatomy, but to make science tangible — to let students see, touch, and ask questions in a setting that feels both exciting and supportive. The program is designed to spark curiosity and introduce young people to the kinds of careers that exist in medicine and other STEM fields.

Space is limited to 40 students, and registration is required. The cost to participate is $55 for museum members and $65 for non-members. Registration is available through the museum’s website.

The Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center said the program has been popular in past years, in part because it combines hands-on learning with real-world mentorship in a way that few classroom experiences can replicate.

The museum, a nonprofit supported by the cities of Wenatchee and East Wenatchee, focuses on connecting people of all ages with the region’s history, arts, and sciences through programs that emphasize participation as much as observation.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media