NAU’s Health Careers Immersion and Skills Camp introduces local teens to future healthcare careers
This summer, Northern Arizona University’s College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) welcomed local high school students around Flagstaff and Phoenix for its first Health Careers Immersion and Skills Camp, a five-day experience designed to introduce teens to healthcare careers through hands-on learning. The camp gave students aged 14-17 the opportunity to explore a variety of health professions and earn first-aid and teen Mental Health First Aid certifications, while getting a feel for life on NAU’s Flagstaff campus.
Throughout the week, campers learned from NAU faculty and healthcare professionals to discover careers they may not have previously considered. Through interactive activities and demonstrations, students explored speech-language pathology, where they learned International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and stepped into the lab where they got to see an ultrasound biofeedback demonstration. In the occupational therapy session, campers used sock aids, puzzles, and tried drawing with impairment goggles to learn about the different adaptive ways patients get back into independent living. With the athletic training faculty, they were taken to the Student-Athlete High-Performance Center for a behind the scenes to look at life as an athletic trainer. To learn about a career in dietetics and nutrition, campers prepared food with chefs in NAU kitchens. Finally, to explore the physical therapy department, students learned through obstacle courses, reflex testing, and trying out different mobility devices. Camp also included tours of NAU’s nursing simulation spaces, giving participants a firsthand look at healthcare education and clinical training at the university.
In addition to career exploration, campers developed skills they can use long before entering the workforce. Participants completed training in adult and pediatric First Aid, CPR, AED use, EpiPen administration and asthma response through the American Red Cross while also earning teen Mental Health First Aid certification through Northland Family Help Center. These certifications equipped students to respond confidently in emergencies while gaining expertise on the importance of physical and mental health in their communities.
For many students, the experience also provided greater confidence in their future career goals. One camper reflected, “This week reminded me why I want to go into healthcare,” while another said, “I learned a lot about different medical fields and now I know more about my options.”
Their shared experiences reflect the camp’s goal of helping young people discover meaningful careers while connecting classroom learning with real-world healthcare practice. “This camp is one of the many ways we introduce students to the rewarding, high-demand healthcare careers that Arizona communities need. We often say that students can’t aspire to become a speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, or athletic trainer if they don’t know those careers exist. By exposing young people to professions they may never have encountered, we’re helping them envision new possibilities for their futures,” says Gabriela Morales Monterroza, CHHS College Recruiter.
The Health Careers Immersion and Skills Camp reflects CHHS’s commitment to building Arizona’s future healthcare workforce by introducing students to high demand professions early in their educational journey. By combining hands-on experiences, professional certifications and college prep, the camp helped students picture themselves as future healthcare providers.
Contributed by Emma Johnson