Each summer, students interested in veterinary medicine find rich experiences learning more about equine health and what it takes to become a veterinarian. Programs run by some of the most progressive and well-regarded veterinary schools in the country make career exploration and participation in the field of veterinary medicine a hands-on experience as faculty, staff and veterinary students share their expertise middle and high school students.
Hands-on experience at veterinarian camps
At vet camps, students learn more about equine anatomy and healthcare.
For example, the camp at Purdue University in Indiana, the Boiler Vet Camp recently presented a program during which students were able to learn more about equine anatomy and horse health by observing an endoscopy on a Saddlebred as a camera looked inside the horse.
Jacob Jensen, a junior in the College of Veterinary Medicine, explained how an endoscopy checks the pharynx, soft palate, epiglottis, larynx and other components in either the upper or lower respiratory tracks.
Students were able to see this equine procedure through the week-long Jr. Boiler Vet Camp. Jim Weisman, director of student services in the College of Veterinary Medicine, said the camp allows 50 students entering 8th and 9th grades in the fall to “experience” what veterinarians and veterinary technicians do.
Vet camps are available throughout the United States at universities and other equine-oriented facilities. In many cases, scholarships or fundraising programs are available to help students pay for the costs of the camps.