As an incoming senior psychology major and pre-med student at the University of Maryland, College Park, seeking summer clinical experience opportunities, I was advised to contact hospitals, clinics, and private medical practices. However, as students attending local universities and colleges quickly scooped up nearby summer clinical opportunities, I realized that I’d need to think outside of the box to gain the experience I sought.
I had been a summer camp counselor for six years, a job that had greatly influenced my desire to work in pediatrics. I decided to ask Jon and Kari Grove, camp directors at Lakeview Day Camp, if there might be a relevant position for me there. They graciously created a position where I would work under the supervision of pediatric emergency medicine physician Amy Boutsikaris, MD, pediatrician Rachel Gwertman, DO, and experienced pediatric nurses in the camp wellness center. I figured I’d spend my days applying Band-Aids and giving out ice packs. My assumption couldn’t have been further from what I experienced.
From the outside, the wellness center may appear calmer than a traditional healthcare environment, but I was surprised by how fast-paced and demanding each day was. A camper might walk in with a minor cut, a fever, an allergic reaction to a bee sting, a broken arm, or even immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Between signing campers in, providing care, gathering information about what happened, and communicating with parents or camp leadership, often simultaneously, there were very few moments of downtime. And the lessons I learned were abundant.
First, I learned how to chart and scribe for each camper who visited the wellness center. I learned how critical it is to balance precision with clarity — using accurate medical terminology while documenting details thoroughly, even for something as simple as right leg pain. Dr. Boutsikaris guided me on the meaning of different medical phrases and the importance of being able to describe symptoms and treatments given to children. Communicating this information in precise detail to parents is a crucial component of the job, as parents are unable to accompany their children for treatment, in contrast to typical pediatric care visits.
As a former camp counselor, I already understood that when a parent sends their child to camp, they are entrusting camp staff with their child’s safety. I now understand that when that involves the health, medical treatment, and care of a child, accurate charting is not just a medical responsibility, but a vital part of honoring that trust.
In addition to daily “walk-in” care, two campers with diabetes required ongoing monitoring throughout the day, including careful attention to meals and activity schedules. Balancing these responsibilities took flexibility, teamwork, and constant communication. Watching Dr. Boutsikaris and the nursing staff adapt their systems through trial and error was incredibly instructive. I was able to present and help give care under their direct supervision, which allowed me so many opportunities to observe and gain hands-on experience.
The setting’s informal nature also allowed time for meaningful conversations. I was able to ask questions and hear stories about their experiences in medicine — an opportunity that is often limited in more hierarchical healthcare environments.
While providing safe, efficient, daily medical care for campers may be at the forefront of the services provided by the wellness center, this level of care could only be accomplished with organization. We were responsible for the registration and storage of over a hundred EpiPens, albuterol pumps, and medications to be given to campers as prescribed and in case of emergencies. And it was imperative that necessary medications went along with teen campers who took off-site trips. It took hours to implement a system that worked, and I was grateful to learn that organization is just as important as the care itself.
Most importantly, I learned how to be present for a child in distress — even if it’s just putting on a Band-Aid. What may seem minor to an adult can feel overwhelming to a child. Creating a sense of safety and comfort is crucial to good care.
At camp, healthcare is about comfort, safety, and building trust, and I’m realizing that those are the same values I’ll carry with me into medicine. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity I was given and for the reminder of the life skills and magic that working at a summer camp can provide.
Photo courtesy of Lakeview Day Camp, East Brunswick, NJ.
Madison Blaustein is a senior psychology and pre-medical student at the University of Maryland, College Park. Madison’s extracurricular activities include being a peer and crisis counselor at the University of Maryland Help Center, music director of the UMD Treblemakers, a research assistant for the Neurocognitive and Development Lab, vice president of the UMD chapter of Student Organ Donation Advocates, and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society.
