This week Prairie Lakes Healthcare System partnered with Lake Area Technical College to create Explore Camp 2023
High school students interested in a career in healthcare participated in the full-day exploration camp. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors from various high schools throughout the region attended. The first half of the day featured patient treatment processes in different departments of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System (PLHS) along with a tour. The second half of the camp took place at Lake Area Technical College (LATC) with a provided lunch along with education.
Many PLHS departments took time to speak with the students and teach them specifics about their specific role in the healthcare field. Participating departments included Radiology, ER, Lab, Rehab Services, MSP, Home Health, CCU, and Surgical Services. They even got to check out the helipad!
The goal of Explore Camp is to bring awareness to the variety of medical careers available in healthcare. In addition, we want to build interest in students to stay in the Watertown area for their medical education, training, and experience.
We've heard from a few participants already. One young woman exclaimed, "This was amazing, don’t go back to the old way!" This particular student had participated in "Scrubs Camp" in the past. Heidi W., Explore Camp lead from LATC, added, "Eyes were opened at the number of careers within a hospital." Another student was surprised by the PLHS culture, "It surprised me that people have fun in a hospital, I thought it was all serious and heavy all the time!”
School counselors were also on hand throughout the day. One mentioned, "You don’t realize the goldmine you have here, once word gets out your registrations will fill in one day!” This particular counselor has taken students to similar camps throughout South Dakota looking for the right combination of career exploration for her students and agreed she would come back to Watertown. She would "rather drive the distance for quality not local for convenience."
Many people across several departments came together to make Explore Camp a success. Team leaders spent the morning with the students on tours, answering questions, and guiding them through patient simulations- Leah Le (Director of Specialty Clinics), Ian J. (CCU), Michael B. (Patient Care Svs), Elizabeth W. (Patient Care Svs), Emma G. (MSP), Gabriella J. (Anesthesia), and Shannon B. (Marketing). Staff Recruiter Grace T. worked tirelessly with LATC and local high schools to organize the event over the past several months.
Thank you to all those that made Explore Camp such a triumph!
