A love for animals on a deeper level
Furry puppies. Fuzzy kittens. Horses and cows and alpacas, oh my. If you have a kid who’s crazy about animals, consider signing them up for vet school. Well, the teen version of it, that is.
Every summer, Active Living at the University of Calgary offers a summer veterinary camp for children entering grades 7 to 9.
The week-long camps give kids a taste of what it’s like to be a real vet, says Matthew Read, assistant dean and associate professor with the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
“The vet camps are an opportunity for junior high-aged children to explore the world of veterinary medicine,” Read says. And, he notes, “our vet students work hard to balance learning about veterinary medicine with fun activities.”
Erika Brandson and Rohannna Wong, both second-year students in U of C’s veterinary program, were the organizers and counsellors at last year’s camp.
“When I was a young kid, I wanted to be a vet because of all the cute animals,” Wong says with a laugh.
“But there are so many things that a vet does that we wanted kids to be aware of: surgery, X-rays, physical exams.”
Your child won’t exactly be sending cats for X-rays or performing surgery during the summer program, but they will find out more about what a veterinarian’s job entails. Checking out X-rays and the X-ray machines, learning the importance of teamwork as they explore animal care in small groups, and working with real animals are just some of the activities the program facilitates.
“One day the campers learn how to scrub and gown for surgery, and they get to practise their suturing skills on simulated skin,” Read says. “Another day they learn how to perform a basic physical examination on a dog, and they get to practise listening to heart and lung sounds with a stethoscope.”
Each day of the camp focuses on a different group of animals. For instance, one day is about cats and dogs, another is about horses and cows, and yet another is about exotic animals — alpacas, reindeer and more.
“It’s great exposure for kids who haven’t spent much time around, say, horses or cows or alpacas — species that kids may not normally get a chance to interact with,” Brandson says.
Along the way, the young campers pick up knowledge that may be useful throughout their lives, whether they become veterinarians or simply life-long animal lovers.
“They learn how to behave around animals: respecting their space, knowing how to handle them in a safe way,” says Wong.
“Our camps stress safety and learning how to mind what’s around you.”
It comes as no surprise to discover that the camps fill up quickly, and many students return season after season.
The camp is offered four times a year and sees about 100 students enrolled throughout the summer.
“I never had an opportunity like this when I was a kid, but I wish I had,” says Brandson. “It’s so interesting.”