Purdue to host Vet Camp at Indiana State Fair

July 27, 2015  


Fair vet camp

Participants in the Indiana State Fair Vet Camp, hosted by Purdue's College of Veterinary Medicine, will participate in hands-on activities such as exploring blood and other items under a microscope. These two students look at a sample last year in the veterinary college's tent that hosts live veterinary surgeries, the vet camp and other opportunities to learn about veterinary medicine. Junior Vet Camp is for students in sixth through eighth grades while Senior Vet Camp is for grades nine through 12. The camps take place Aug. 7-22 at the Indiana State Fair. (Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine file photo/Seth Bossingham)
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University's College of Veterinary Medicine will again host Indiana State Fair Vet Camp on Aug. 7-22 at the Indiana State Fair.

There will be two camp sections. Junior Vet Camp, for students in sixth through eighth grades, will be from 9 a.m. until noon on Aug. 7-9, 15-16 and 22, and 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Aug. 10, 12, 14, 18 and 20. Senior Vet Camp, for students in grades nine through 12, is 1-4 p.m. on Aug. 7-9, 15-16 and 22, and 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Aug. 11, 13, 17, 19 and 21.

The camps' times have been altered from last year due to the fair's later start, said Jim Weisman, director of student services for the veterinary college. The daytime camps will be on the weekends, and the late afternoon/evening camps will be during the week.

"We don't know if attendance numbers will be affected by many Indiana schools being back in session," he said.

The goal is to allow participants to experience hands-on skills while learning about the career opportunities in veterinary medicine.

"The camps are led by current veterinary students who have worked with me to develop the curriculum," Weisman said. "We discuss all the career options available for veterinarians in both camps. We really stress seeking a science career and that veterinary medicine offers great opportunities to do anything from clinical private practice to pharmaceutical development, food safety, biosecurity and teaching."

Junior Vet Camp participants will explore blood and other items under a microscope and be able to practice surgery skills by suturing up simulated incisions. The hands-on sessions also will offer opportunities to look at radiographs (X-rays) to learn what is inside patients.

Senior Vet Campers also will learn and practice their suturing skills, develop physical exam technique and learn how radiographs are made as well as observe a live animal spay or castration surgery on a dog.

Each camp costs $25 and requires preregistration. To register, visit https://enter.indianastatefair.com. Registration will close Friday (July 31). For more information, email thebarns@indianastatefair.com.

The College of Veterinary Medicine also will continue its tradition of conducting live spay and neuter demonstrations on 13 of the state fair's 17 days on Farmers Boulevard, located on the fairgrounds’ north side. The patients are animal shelter pets that need the surgeries as part of the process of being adopted into new homes. Organized through a collaboration with the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association, the surgeries will be offered daily at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. during the fair's Aug. 7-23 run, except on Aug. 12, 17, 20 and 22. On those days, Weisman said, demonstrations by a veterinarian on an animal or a medical topic will be given. 

Writer: Greg McClure, 765-496-9711, gmcclure@purdue.edu 

Sources: Jim Weisman, 765-494-0278, jweisman@purdue.edu

Kevin Doerr, director of public affairs and communications, College of Veterinary Medicine, doerrkr@purdue.edu 

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