2019 Boiler Vet Camps Fascinate Participants

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Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s 12^th annual Junior Boiler Vet Camp and 10^th annual Senior Boiler Vet Camp wrapped up last week with the end of the Senior Camp. These unique summer camps run for two weeks every June and teach junior high and high school students what it takes to work in the field of veterinary medicine.

The program’s first week is dedicated to rising 8^th and 9^th graders participating in the Junior Camp, which involves learning about a variety of veterinary-related topics through sessions such as “Cud It Out”, “Fish Need Doctors Too”, and “Equine Treadmill and Bronchoscopy”, as well as opportunities to interact with many different species of animals. One junior camper from Kentucky said the chickens were his favorite part, while another said it was interesting to learn that cows had four stomach chambers.

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During the second week, the Senior Camp, for rising 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th graders, focuses on subjects like surgery and anesthesia, as well as on learning what goes into a strong veterinary school application. A big part of the Senior Boiler Vet Camp happens on day one, when campers are placed in groups, and each group receives their camp dog to care for throughout the week. They also have the opportunity to observe and identify blood cells, learn to administer a canine physical exam, and much more. This year, six of the campers adopted the camp dogs that they bonded with during the week!

Boiler Vet Camp is a highly selective program, only accepting about 20% of applicants each year. When asked about getting into Boiler Vet Camp, one of the campers shared how shocked and excited she was when she found out she had been accepted, while others nodded in agreement. They said they found the summer camp to be a great opportunity for exposure to what professionals in the field of veterinary medicine really do.