Struck by a car and in need of immediate treatment, Molly the dog lies still on an exam table as a team of veterinarians works to stabilize their patient and diagnose injuries that include a cut on the head and a potentially broken leg. 

What may usually be a tense situation is eased by the reality that Molly isn’t your typical patient. It’s a plush toy with simulated injuries, and the care team members assessing it aren’t really trained veterinarians. They’re a group of high school students eager to learn more about veterinary medicine and potential career paths in the field. 

This hands-on exercise is part of VetCamp, an interactive education program for middle and high school students in grades 6–12 that features learning activities developed by and taught by Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program students at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, with sponsorship from the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation. 

Held each summer on the University’s St. Paul campus, the camp is divided into small and large animal sessions that use case scenarios, demonstrations with animal models, games and other tools to teach fundamentals of veterinary care and encourage critical thinking to solve problems often encountered in the field. 

The case scenarios are created by DVM students and put campers to work on diagnosing and treating their patients’ ailments. 

“In those scenarios, the kids are the vets, and we have student coordinators sit at tables with them, acting as veterinary technicians to help them, and then we walk through each step,” says Mikayla Hjelden, a fourth-year veterinary student and outgoing camp coordinator. 

The animal and medical models used in the camp provide an opportunity to practice skills such as suturing a wound or drawing blood. Large animal campers practice counting and filing down horse teeth—a process known as floating—using Styrofoam pieces as model teeth. 

Veterinary students cover animal anatomy and teach campers how to conduct physical exams. They also challenge campers to pack a hypothetical bag for a medical call, shifting the contents with each proposed patient scenario. 

While they spend the camp teaching new skills and imparting knowledge, the coordinators are also learning. They’re tasked with translating complex medical processes and clinical language into approachable and interesting lessons. 

It’s a challenge that Snow Li, a third-year veterinary student and camp coordinator, says has helped reaffirm the knowledge and skills she’s learned so far in veterinary school. 

“I need to make sure I'm explaining things right,” she says. “At this point, it's kind of second nature, but sometimes they'll ask a question I've never thought of, and it makes me learn something new as well.”

For veterinary students pursuing careers in clinical practice, successful client communication is vital, and working with camp participants gives them an opportunity to hone that skill. 

“In any kind of veterinary practice, you have to be able to communicate and figure out different methods of educating clients,” says Aaike Dergance, a third-year veterinary student and camp coordinator. “This camp is really helpful in preparing us for that.”

In addition to teaching, the DVM students answer questions about the path to becoming a veterinarian, including classes and experiences that would help shape campers into ideal veterinary program candidates. That includes gaining experience in animal care through opportunities such as volunteering or working at clinics, shelters and wildlife rehabilitation centers.

“Usually, the high school kids will ask more questions regarding college and where to go from here and how they should start preparing,” says Zoie Mueller, a fourth-year veterinary student and outgoing coordinator. “It's great to see them engage with it and exciting to watch that bit of interest grow during the camp—to see them consider a career in veterinary medicine as something they want to do in the future.”

Interested in VetCamp? Visit the camp website for more information and session dates.