Current rural high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors with a priority given to freshmen and sophomores from the 14 counties of the Northern Illinois Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Region are eligible to apply to the camp. Counties included are: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Henry, JoDaviess, LaSalle, Lee, Ogle, Putnam, Rock Island, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago. Eligible students should be from a rural area and have a budding interest in health professions.
The purpose of this camp is to provide rural high school students with a hands-on learning experience about different health professions careers, and to show them the opportunities available in health professions. Students will also receive information about education and training, academic requirements, financial aid, and campus life. The faculty for the camp is comprised of health professions faculty, health professionals currently in practice, and health professions college students.
If you are chosen to attend this camp, you will have an exciting chance to meet other students from Northern Illinois who also want to learn more about health careers. This will be a great opportunity for you to gain more knowledge of areas you might want to pursue, meet some new people, and find out what being a college student is really like!
Campers will stay in a dormitory on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. An EMT rescue of car wreck victims and a helicopter air lift will be simulated! Campers will tour a hospital and visit various labs (i.e. anatomy, nursing, dietetics, clinical science). A bowling party and dance are among some of the fun evening activities planned. All meals and recreation are provided.
Students are chosen for the camp based on their year in school, academic standing and their rurality (as defined geographically by the residential address and USDA standards). If the camp does not fill, we will consider taking students from urban areas.
To obtain a Rural Health Careers Camp application contact Vicki Weidenbacher-Hoper at 815.395.5854 or via e-mail at vweide1@uic.edu. Applications are also available on-line at www.ILrhpguide.com/camp.cfm. Applications must be received by May 1, 2009 to be considered. Completed applications should be sent to: Vicki Weidenbacher-Hoper, MSW, University of Illinois/NCRHP, 1601 Parkview Avenue, Rockford, IL 61107 or email vweide1@uic.edu
There is no cost for students to attend camp. We suggest parents make a $25 tax-deductible contribution to the Health Careers Pipeline Fund, administered through the University of Illinois Foundation, a 501(c)(3) corporation. Contributions will help the National Center to continue to offer health career education to Illinois students, encourage them to live healthier lifestyles and become future healthcare professionals. Checks may be made payable to U of I College of Medicine at Rockford, with Health Careers Pipeline Fund written in the memo line. Please send checks to U of I College of Medicine at Rockford, attn: Mianne Nelson, 1601 Parkview Avenue, Rockford, IL 61107. For more information, call Mianne at 815.395.5928, or email miannen@uic.edu.
If you have any questions about the camp, please contact Vicki at 815.395.5854 or via e-mail at vweide1@uic.edu. For additional brochures and applications, please go to camp website at: www.ilrhpguide.com/camp.cfm.