Going to summer camp is a longstanding tradition for teenagers, yet finding the right camp and focused activities can be a challenge. This summer, thanks to Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College and a collection of healthcare industry partners, there’s a new camp in town.
FDLTCC’s first-ever Scrubs Camp comes to campus July 13-15, when about 35 high school students from throughout Minnesota will spend three days on campus exploring health science careers and experiencing a slice of college life. Scrubs Camp gets its name from the typical “uniform” worn by many professionals working in the healthcare industry.
The primary focus of Scrubs Camp is providing students insights into healthcare professions. The camp experience in Cloquet is a collaborative project between HealthForce Minnesota and Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, along with local healthcare partners Community Memorial Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital and Regional Trauma Center, Life Flight, Essentia, Fond du Lac Human Services, and the University of Minnesota Medical School.
Scrubs Camp offers students entering grades 9-12 the opportunity to explore many careers in the health sciences. Students will participate in hands-on learning sessions and investigate possible healthcare careers of interest. Camp participants are guided through activities by working healthcare professionals and college faculty.
“This is going to be a fabulous camp experience for students who are curious about a career in healthcare,” said Mary Monson, Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. “They will meet professional people working in our local facilities, see and experience actual work environments during tours, plus there will be all kinds of hands-on activities to simulate real-world situations that professionals see during a typical day. Students will meet college faculty and staff, stay in our campus residence hall, and get a good idea of what the path looks like for them to pursue a specific career in the healthcare industry.”
Some of the health careers and topics that will be explored during Scrubs Camp at FDLTCC include nursing, speech therapy, paramedic and emergency medicine, medical laboratory, psychology and mental health, occupational therapy, neurology, anatomy, and veterinary medicine. A unique component of the Scrubs Camp at FDLTCC is learning about Life Flight and seeing the helicopter and on-board medical staff during a planned landing at Hilltop Park across the street from the campus.
Scrubs Camps is offered throughout the summer at several Minnesota locations, but this is the first time the camp will be held at FDLTCC. Over 850 students are expected to attend similar camps at 14 different locations during the summer of 2016.
More information about Scrubs Camp at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College and across Minnesota is available at http://www.healthforceminnesota.org/scrubs-camp/. For more information, contact Misun Bormann, HealthForce Minnesota, at mbormann*AT*winona.edu or 507-285-7133.
HealthForce Minnesota, hosted by Winona State University, is the Center of Excellence in healthcare for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. HealthForce Minnesota is the creator and coordinator behind Scrubs Camp. HealthForce Minnesota uses Scrubs Camps to address the needs of expanding the number and diversity of healthcare workers, creating innovative health science education, and promoting collaborative efforts between education and industry.
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College brings together a tribal college and a state community college in partnership. With this partnership, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College has a unique mission in providing education to the public. This collaboration offers all students, regardless of demographic background, the opportunity to learn in a comfortable and diverse environment. The College offers two-year associate degrees across a range of program areas, including popular degree programs in Nursing and Broad Field Health Sciences. Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

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My favorite thing about FDLTCC is the people. I’ve met fantastic students, faculty and staff who go above and beyond what I expected.

I chose FDLTCC because of its size and the curriculum. When I first came here in 2019, I was just looking for what I needed to volunteer, perhaps in a crisis shelter. I met with Don Jarvinen, and the rest is history.

It is awesome here at the FDLTCC Education Program because it is like a family here, if you need help or are struggling with anything, you have quite a few people who will help you out.