Arkansas high school students can get hands-on health care experiences at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences MASH camps across the state this summer.
MASH (Medical Applications of Science for Health) camps are a free, two-week program for rising high school juniors and seniors where they can explore team-building exercises, visit health care settings, learn at various workshops and shadow health care professionals. Mini-MASH camps are another option with camps that last only one week, according to a news release.
Community Health Applied in Medical Public Service (CHAMPS) camps are like MASH camps but generally last three to five days and are geared toward students entering ninth or 10th grade.
Camps have been scheduled throughout June and July for Arkadelphia, Berryville, Blytheville, Clinton, Conway, Crossett, DeWitt, Dumas, El Dorado, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Harrison, Jonesboro, Lake Village, Malvern, Mena, Pine Bluff, Rogers, Texarkana and West Memphis. Additional camps are planned for Cabot, Forrest City, Helena-West Helena, Hot Springs, Paragould and Warren, but dates are not yet confirmed.
Application deadlines vary by camp, ranging from March 18 to May 8.
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Southeast Arkansas MASH Camps include:
Pine Bluff — MASH camp at the UAMS South Central campus.
DeWitt — MASH camp at DeWitt Hospital.
El Dorado — Mini-MASH camp at South Arkansas Regional Hospital and South Arkansas Community College.
Crossett — CHAMPS camp at Ashley County Medical Center.
Lake Village — Mini-MASH camp at Chicot Memorial Center.
Dumas — Mini-MASH camp at Delta Memorial Hospital.
Applicants must be entering the 11th or 12th grade and must have completed a biology class. They will be selected based on recommendation letters; academic, athletic or other achievements and awards; extracurricular activities; leadership and service in school and the community; and a personal essay describing the student’s desire to attend the camp and pursue a career in health care.
The MASH program is made possible thanks to a long-term partnership with Arkansas Farm Bureau. In 2023, the organization pledged a five-year, $500,000 gift to create the Farm Bureau Fund for Excellence, which supports health career recruitment programs for Arkansas students.
A complete list of camps, their dates and their application deadlines are available at bit.ly/3EITDy6.