It's Saturday morning and as the sun breaks through the marine layer, aspiring young Veterinarians pile into The Helen Woodward Animal Center for a specialty workshop for kids- You Can Be a Veterinarian Camp. These lucky elementary school age children are about to learn what it takes to be a Veterinarian. As the parent of a young child with a passion for animals, I brim with pride watching my son en route to camp for a day of learning.
What do they teach kids at Vet Camp? You might think it's just play, but it's so much more!
At Vet Camp children learn animal CPR , they learn how to perform stitches on a snake, they learn about the internal organs of a frog, and a horse, and they interact with numerous animals. Simply put, there is never a dull moment at Helen Woodward.
This distinguished program utilizes hands on learning, and has a classroom component that is both engaging and fun. It's a unique workshop geared for children with a strong interest in animal care. It's expertly designed to meet kids at their maturity level and offers real instruction in animal husbandry. The instructors are seasoned and caring, and it shows.
My child is a tough critic, and will scuff at a program that rehashes what he already knows about animals. The ultimate test is the car ride home after camp pick-up. At the first stop light I peer at him through the rear view mirror and ask the million dollar question. "So what did you think of Vet Camp would you do it again?" "In a heartbeat," he replies unequivocally, and in a state of excitement he joyfully rehashes his action filled Saturday that's thankfully void of screen time.
At home he shows me his dossier filled with animal observations, his first sutures on a banana (the stand-in for the wounded snake). He says he can see himself working as a Veterinarian when he grows up, among other professions. As a parent this is what you dream of, your child finding themselves, developing a love of learning, and ultimately making a difference. Programs like You can be a Veterinarian expose kids to this dynamic career option. It shepherds children to their future studies and possible lifetime careers, while proceeds from the workshop give back to the animals this non-profit cares for. Children learn more than animal husbandry, they learn community, morality, social skills, finding their purpose and more. Helen Woodward Animal Center rescues animals every day, and is committed to not euthanizing them. That credo is the very fabric that they stand for, and their ethos is evident in how they care for their animals, and educate tomorrows animal stewards. I highly recommend Helen Woodward You Can Be a Veterinarian Camp, and their Summer Critter Camp. Both programs are held at the Helen Woodward Animal Center in beautiful Rancho Santa Fe.
For More Information On Vet Camp Visit: https://animalcenter.org/programs-services/education/vet-camp
For Info on Helen Woodward Animal Center Critter Camp Visit: https://animalcenter.org/programs-services/education/summer-critter-camp
Read Our Review of Critter Camp: https://centralsandiego.macaronikid.com/articles/5ca275ec828e8606eacdd411/helen-woodward-critter-camp
Mac KId Camp Guide: https://centralsandiego.macaronikid.com/articles/5c9e76a9f3570359b0055e89/the-san-diego-summer-camp-guide
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