This summer Augsburg College provided dorms and classes for the 2012 Scrubs Camp, so that students all around Minneapolis could experience and get a feel for the healthcare field. I was one of several interns from the STEP-UP Achieve summer jobs program that got to participate in this great week-long camp.

Campers got a wake up knock on the door around 6:30 am. Breakfast started at 7 am and ended at 8. After breakfast campers had a meeting to begin the day. Each day had three or four classes that each camper chose themselves. There were two classes in the morning, and then lunch was served at 11:30 am, and then there were one or two classes in the afternoon before dinner at 5 pm. After dinner, campers were able to do activities of their choice, and at 10 pm lights went out.

Classes included lectures on careers, how campers could be professionals in that career, and also about nutrition and the difference between processed and fresh foods. Hands-on training gave campers a chance to give shots, learn their blood type, practice on manikins in real life situations, and also learn about the human body—bones, muscles and their functions—while learning in a playful way.

Two out of the five days at camp there was fitness training, including, yoga, boot camp, and cardio. Guest speaker Trent Tucker, who played for the Bulls back in the day, came and shared his story. Also a med student, Bill Johnson, came and shared the path he took to get where he is in his life. 

For me personally, I really enjoyed meeting all the other campers. It was like a diverse party, and people that i thought wouldn’t interest me became my new friends. They made me laugh, smile and brought happiness to my life. The best part of camp for me was working with a pregnant manikin and delivering her child. Everything operated as if it was happening in a real hospital with a real patient, delivering a real child. So amazing to me!

My advice for all students is: if you’re looking for a career in healthcare and don’t know exactly where to start or don’t know what you are really interested in, two words....Scrubs Camp!