Video: MSU Hosts Summer Veterinary Camp

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — Camps for kids continue across America.

Mississippi State University is hosting a group of children this week who hope to learn a little more about man’s best friend.

Campers from near and far have gathered together for the love of animals. Thanks to the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, these animal lovers will learn how to medically care for their furry friends.

“It mirrors the experience of first and second year DVM students get in their education, so they do all kinds of labs and get experience that those students would get, but more of a kid-friendly version,” Program Director Brandi Van-Ormer said.

What sets this camp apart is that the students do more than learn about cats and dogs. The sessions introduce campers to everything from anatomy and microbiology to radiology.

14-year-old student Keturah Wise loves what she’s learning.

“So far, physical exams, cause I, I’m just learning how, if like an animal walked into a room or the ER or something, I would have to watch out to see anything wrong with them, then see if they needed care and stuff like that,” Wise said. “That’s been the most exciting part so far.

Mary Raichell, who takes care of dogs, cats and chickens at her home in Arizona, just can’t get enough of the fun the camp offers.

“This program here is a really good program to be in,” Raichell said. “I would come back next year if I could.”

“It’s interesting reading the entrance essays for vet camp as compared to the essays that are prospective students for the veterinary program write,” Van-Ormer said. “They all of that same key element that ‘I have loved animals since I weas a child, I’ve wanted to be a veterinarian ever since I was five.’ So, apparently that love for animals starts really, really early, and we just want to cultivate that, because a good connection between humans and animals is healthy all the way around.”