Hands-on experiences
Students enjoy veterinary science camp in Davie
Teens looking into a career in veterinary or animal science were given an immersive experience in the field during the new 4-H Veterinary Science Camp.
The weeklong session also took students ages 14-18 from their learning space at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Fort Lauderdale Research & Education Center in Davie to other sites to work with animals.
“This is something that I could offer them that was a little more unique,” said Alexandra Draper, Broward 4-H extension agent who previously taught veterinary science at Felix Varela Senior High School. “The veterinary hospital at the University of Florida … works with kids at a camp. The camp is unattainable for kids around here because it’s 300 miles away. I knew this was something I could put together that would be a crash course of what I used to teach in the high school classroom.”
Draper said the camp also helped students learn about volunteer opportunities that they could use for their required community service hours.
Students learned about suturing with bananas and practice injections with raw chicken legs. They performed IV injections with a Styrofoam muscle consisting of fake veins filled with green fluid, as well as sterile procedures.
They traveled to Tradewinds Park and Millpond Equine Clinic in Coconut Creek to practice handling large animals, such as horses and goats. They also collected fecal samples to test for parasites. They went to the Sawgrass Nature Center & Wildlife Hospital in Coral Springs for insight on the wildlife there and to help with a service
project, and also visited the Humane Society of Broward County in Dania Beach and Butterfly World in Coconut Creek.
“It’s really good and interactive,” said student Samantha Donahue. “It’s extremely hands-on. I expected sitting in a lecture and talking, but not actually doing so much. We are actually using real syringes and tools.”
Mary Uriarte also enjoyed the experience.
“I’ve always wanted to be a vet ever since I can remember,” she said. “I thought this was an awesome opportunity and wanted to take advantage of it.”