A Typical Day at Dartmouth Health Careers Summer Camp
“What was most valuable to me was spending time at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and meeting with a variety of health professionals. It exposed me to the hospital setting and all of its components. I also didn't have much of a background in medical careers but meeting with different professionals really opened me up to new possibilities.”
A typical day at the Dartmouth Health Careers Camp begins early with breakfast at 7 a.m., and ends with lights out at 10 p.m.
Educational activities
Most mornings are spent on
the Dartmouth campus. Classroom activities take
place in the large and sunny conference room of the
campers' dormitory and opportunities to experience
other college sights and sounds are provided during
supervised visits to regular classrooms, dining halls,
and other college facilities. Afternoons are often
spent at off-campus sites such as the
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, the Veterans
Affairs Medical Center, and other locations where
campers can meet and talk with many different
health professionals and engage in hands-on
experiences.
Meals
Each camper is given a meal card to use at any
of the college dining halls; counselors choose the
most convenient location for each meal based on its
proximity to scheduled activities. Campers also have
at least one meal in the hospital cafeteria, one at a
college "hang-out," and one or more in outdoor
settings.
Recreation
No day goes by without at least one
opportunity to play. Recreational activities are
offered on an around the Dartmouth green, at a local
pond, and in the dormitory itself. Several alternatives
are always provided to accommodate different levels
of fitness and interests. Rowing white water rafts on
Storr's pond was a highlight in 2007, with ultimate
Frisbee, soccer, and walks around campus other
popular choices. Many evenings feature popcorn
and a movie.
Projects
We engage students in at least one
ongoing project related to health care and the health
professions. Working in teams, students spend a part
of each day studying a special topic or patient issue,
ultimately putting together a poster to present to
faculty, staff, family, and friends on graduation day.
“The most valuable part of the camp was meeting many other people with similar interests to me. This was important to me, because most of my friends do not know what they want to do with their life.”