Health Sciences Summer Camps
Inspiring Future Health Leaders
Each year, Dell Med offers several summer day camps for middle and high school students in Central Texas. Participants enjoy hands-on science experiments, interact with health professionals from various fields, spend time with outstanding camp counselors — and much more! Providing these experiences is just one way the Dell Med team encourages members of the local community to pursue careers that contribute to health transformation.
About the Experience
In the same simulation labs where medical and nursing students train, camp participants learn basic clinical skills such as administering IVs, performing intubations, drawing blood and taking vital signs. Students also engage in a range of laboratory science, discover how technology can aid modern medicine and earn First Aid or CPR/AED certification. Plus, they have ample time for recreation at UT Austin in the Texas Union and Gregory Gym!
The weeklong camps are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and include lunch. Students from outside Central Texas can apply, but the camps do not provide accommodations or transportation.
Contact the team with any questions.
2021 Camp Dates
In light of the continuing pandemic, the 2021 Health Sciences Summer Camps will be entirely virtual; no in-person activities will occur.
High school: June 28 to July 2
Middle school: July 12 to July 16
2020 Camp Recap
In response to COVID-19, the Health Sciences Summer Camps occurred virtually over the summer — with over 130 local middle and high school students making discoveries, interacting with role models and learning about careers in health and geosciences.
To help with the transition, the Health Sciences Summer Camps team partnered with UT Austin’s Jackson School of Geosciences to create a new virtual program, “GeoHealth,” that introduced the campers to health and environmental concepts that underscored the relationship between health and the places we live, learn, work and play.
Students explored a broad range of subjects, from mental health to pandemic response to climate change. They collaborated with faculty members and college-age counselors to create concept maps to understand how health and environmental issues affect the world. They heard from speakers from Dell Med and the Jackson School, as well as guests from organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Now, campers are continuing to meet once a month throughout the school year to discuss college readiness, mental health, health equity and more.
How to Apply
There are two ways to apply: through a school district partner or the open application.
Dell Med partners with local school districts to fill enrollment and ensure the camps are serving local students well. Nominations from school district partners comprise 75% of total camp enrollment.
Dell Med reserves the remaining 25% of total enrollment for students who do not attend a school within the partner districts, due to increasing interest from students across the county, state and country. These students are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis through the open application process, which will begin in spring 2021.
- Austin Achieve
- Austin ISD
- Del Valle ISD
- Eanes ISD
- IDEA Montopolis
- IDEA Health Professions
- Manor ISD
- Pflugerville ISD
- Round Rock ISD
Each school district develops its own nomination process that best fits its community and schools. Dell Med recommends guidance counselors, principals and teachers who know their students best nominate those who would most benefit from the camps’ experience. Dell Med welcomes students of diverse talents and interests.
To be eligible for the open application, students must:
- have never attended a Health Sciences Summer Camp; and
- be current 7th, 8th, 9th or 10th grade students.
Current 7th and 8th grade students attend the middle school camp. Current 9th and 10th grade students attend the high school camp.
Selections are made on a first-come, first-served basis from the first 50 complete high school applicants and the first 25 middle school applicants. Submitting an application does not guarantee automatic acceptance into the camp, and the application must be completed in full to be considered.
Selected high school students will be assigned into one of the two available high school camp weeks.
Students are responsible for transportation to and from camp and accommodations if needed. By submitting an application you acknowledge, if selected, you will attend the full week of camp in its entirety; partial attendance is not acceptable. Please make appropriate plans to your schedule in advance.
Cost & Scholarships
Tuition for the virtual camp is $200 per student. Students who are eligible for free/reduced lunch receive full tuition scholarships. Partial scholarships are available for other families in need of financial assistance. Campers receive lunch and snacks as well as a t-shirt, lab coat, backpack, notebook, water bottle, pen/pencil and lanyard.
The Health Sciences Summer Camps are made possible by support from the KLE Foundation through the Summer STEM Investment Hub, the Harry Willett Foundation and other generous donors.
Explore Our Impact
She’s pre-med and the first in her family to go to college. Her time at Dell Med’s Health Sciences Summer Camps helped her get there.
Dell Med programs, including the camps, are working to make sure an increasingly diverse body of students have opportunity to explore the health professions.
In addition to pursuing new interests in health sciences, several summer camp alumni return as mentors for younger students.