Last week, the MSU Extensions Program held the first ever 4-H Animal and Veterinary Science Camp.
The goal of the camp's first year according to camp director Julie Thelen, was to better connect Michigan youth with MSU, the professors and the programs so that they are better prepared for life on campus and experiences later in life.
Julie was hired a year ago to expand the curriculum, 4 veterinary students were hired to assist with the program and others are hired annually to help with programs like this. They needed all the help they could get considering the interest in the program. They received 124 applications and had to max participation at 60 students. After the deadline they had 60-80 more interested. They even had an application from Singapore and a few others from out of state.
Throughout the camp students are given hands on experience, able to work with live animals (some for the first time) and are faced with everything they would need to do to get into veterinary school. At the end of the week they are given real world situations to respond to and have presentations with one of the head professors from the Vet school.
"It's a big deal for them to be able to interact, learn and get behind some of the misconceptions concerning agriculture," says Thelen.
Source: Julie Thelen, Michigan State University Extension Children and Youth Institute
Writer: Allison Monroe, Innovation News Editor
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