Over two dozen students took part in Rend Lake College’s Discovery Camp, back on campus Tuesday by popular demand, to give the students the chance to explore and learn about many health care careers. This two-day camp is free for attendees and is held annually at RLC and local hospitals, thanks to a partnership between the college and the South Central Illinois Allied Health Education Center (SCI-AHEC) Network.
During the first day on RLC’s campus, Discovery Campers participated in many hands-on activities, presentations, and videos about Emergency Medical Services, Radiology, Nursing, Medical Coding, Health Information Technology, Biomedical Engineering, and others. They also had a visit from Air Evac 11 Lifeteam, Litton Ambulance Service, and the Jefferson County Fire Protection District, all located in Mt. Vernon.
On day two, the campers visited one of several local hospitals for a tour and a meet-and-greet with hospital staff. It is during this visit that students can interact with the facility’s staff and get tips for continuing their education in college and beyond.
Discovery Camp students posed with members of the Air Evac 11 Lifeteam, based out of Mt. Vernon, Tuesday morning to kick off the annual camp. The staff of Air Evac 11 are, BACK ROW, FROM LEFT, Paramedic Dan Stowers, Flight Paramedic Jason Keller, Flight Nurse Ashley Camden, and Pilot Pete Laitenin. Campers pictured are, in alphabetical order, Brylee Bilderbeck of Dahlgren, Allison and Thomas Brantley of Du Qioin, Madelyn and Mia Doerflein of Tamaroa, Treya Fassett of Waltonville, Toby Hamblin of Norris City, Brenna and Makenna Hamson of Dahlgren, Sylera Jackson of Mt. Vernon, Kierra Johnston of Mt. Vernon, Andrew Knapp of Tamaroa, Taylor Kurtz of Pinckneyville, Maddie Lane of Mt. Vernon, Mezziaah Lesure of Mt. Vernon, Maddi Maxwell of Macedonia, Madison Miller of Dix, Christian Odle of Mt. Vernon, Brendan Parks of Mt. Vernon, Nate Ragland of Sesser, Megan Restoff of Tamaroa, Emma Rice of Pinckneyville, and James Robb of Pinckneyville.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Discovery Camper James Robb of Pinckneyville, LEFT, sits inside Air Evac 11’s helicopter Tuesday morning, and asks questions of Flight Paramedic Jason Keller, CENTER, and Flight Nurse Ashley Camden.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Campers gather Tuesday afternoon to watch Litton Ambulance and the Jefferson County Fire Protection District perform a mock accident on the north end of campus.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
