Northland hosting 'Liftoff Health Summer Camps' for ages 12 and up

May 24, 2023 — Northland Community and Technical College is excited to welcome aspiring healthcare professionals ages 12 and up to their East Grand Forks campus for a day of hands-on exploration into the variety of careers available in the healthcare and medical fields. This immersive experience will give participants a glimpse of what a day as a healthcare professional is really like, making use of Northland’s state-of-the-art training facilities.

To accommodate summer schedules, interested students have two dates to pick from to attend one of these free all-day camps: Wednesday, June 14 or Thursday, July 20. Both camps will run 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Northland's East Grand Forks Campus (2022 Central Avenue NE, East Grand Forks, Minn.), with registration opening at 8:30 a.m. each day. The registration window will remain open until both camps fill up — register here. (www.northlandcollege.edu/liftoff)

"This is the first year for Liftoff Health Summer Camp, and we couldn't be more excited to launch participants into campus activities so they can discover what a job in healthcare is all about," said Debra Beland, Radiology/Phlebotomy Program Director at Northland. "The activities we have planned are sure to be a blast. Participants will have the opportunity to learn and perform different life-saving measures, start an IV and distribute medications, take x-rays, provide CPR, support a patient recovery process and even get to ride in an ambulance!"

A career in healthcare offers a unique opportunity to positively impact the lives of others. Health and medical careers are in high demand, which results in multiple job prospects, higher pay, job security, and job growth opportunities. In fact, the demand is global, so healthcare workers in almost every speciality enjoy great flexibility in terms of where they want to live and work to fit their lifestyle.

"These events provide a chance for those interested in learning about healthcare careers to get hands-on experiences with a wide variety of career paths," explained Stephanie LeDuc, Northland's Dean of Health, Public Services, and Technical Programs. "During the camp, they will follow a patient journey to see how each discipline is involved in the process. It will be a fun and active day to get them excited about their future."

Free registration for Liftoff Health Summer Camp includes a camp drawstring bag, lunch, fun giveaways, and a day of hands-on experience in Northland's specialized health labs. Participants will get the chance to interact with Northland health program faculty and current students to learn firsthand from local — and future — healthcare professionals. Aspiring healthcare providers will also learn about those who pioneered various healthcare fields by discovering who and what they did for medicine. Finally, Northland admissions counselors will offer college planning assistance for those interested in starting the enrollment process.