Students at Ione’s high school health class enjoyed a weekend of learning and exercise in Portland Sept. 22-23, thanks to grants and fundraisers.

The 14 students first visited the exhibit “Body World 3” at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. The students saw “The Human Body” in the Omnimax Theater, and then explored the exhibit itself, absorbing all of the different aspects of the human body.

Steve Schaber of Ione Community School said the students’ reactions were mixed.

“Some, like Tyree Svetich, thought the exhibit was ‘gross, knowing that they were real people,’ while others thought it was pretty interesting,” Schaber said. Matt Hams was impressed with the camel display, and Eric Jepsen called it the chance of a life time.

The next morning the group dressed in bright pink shirts and were on the bus by 7:30 a.m., for Tom McCall Waterfront Park downtown. Once there, they walked three miles along with 47,000 other walkers participating in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Race for the Cure.

“Most of the kids were amazed at how many people came to support the cause,” he said.

“I thought the walk was the best,” RJ Ramos said. “It was fun and amazing to see all those people in one place at the same time. It was pretty overwhelming.”