Survivor Aroostook enters eighth year
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Officials with The Aroostook Medical Center are preparing for the eighth season of Survivor Aroostook, an annual camp designed to let area students explore various health careers.
“Survivor Aroostook Health Exploration Camp was created as a long-range recruitment strategy due to the national health care workforce shortage. This five-day summer camp is to introduce and promote health careers to 60 Aroostook County youth who will be entering the ninth grade in the fall,” said Barbara Turner, TAMC’s health career recruiter.
The program gives campers the opportunity to experience 16 different health careers by participating in unique hands-on exploration activities with health care professionals.
“The mission of Survivor Aroostook is to interest local youth in health care careers at a young age, which allows them to take the appropriate courses in high school to prepare them to enter a health care program of study in college and, hopefully, remain or return back to Aroostook County to work in a health care facility in the area upon completion of their educational program,” said Turner.
Several past campers have gone on to pursue careers in the field of health care.
Organizers are looking forward to getting the ball rolling, beginning with plans to visit schools in Aroostook County this week to spread the word on what the camp is all about.
“This year, representatives of the camp will be visiting all eighth grades in Aroostook County on March 31 and give them the information and applications if they wish to apply. The camp will be held June 21-25 at Northern Maine Community College,” said Turner.
The acceptance process is on a first-come, first-served basis, so students are encouraged to complete and mail the applications in as soon as possible, Turner said. The cost of the camp is $125, which includes food, lodging and the many various activities and prizes throughout the week.
“Scholarships are also available for those who need financial assistance,” noted Turner.
Turner said organizers are pleased with the results of the program so far and look forward to its continued success in encouraging local youth to pursue careers in medical professions, from doctors and nurses to radiologists and anesthesiologists.
“Now in our eighth year of the camp, we are seeing positive results, with a 32 percent success rate of students entering health care fields. This program helps all Aroostook County health care organizations with their future health care staffing needs,” said Turner.
