Search | Menu Nursing Summer Camp helps student discover future career
Britin Zastrow wasn’t completely sure what she wanted to do after high school. Like many students, she was still exploring different career paths and trying to figure out what was right for her. But that changed when she and her mom came across the Madison College Nursing Summer Camp on Facebook.
“My mom encouraged me to go, and I thought, ‘Why not give it a try?’” Britin said. “It seemed like a good opportunity to explore something new and see if nursing might be a good fit for me.”
What started as a summer camp quickly turned into something much bigger.
During the camp, students experienced hands-on nursing activities and worked through health care simulations in Madison College’s labs. For Britin, one moment especially stood out.
“The simulations on the mannequins were probably the biggest moment for me,” she said. “It made everything feel very real and hands-on instead of just something you read about in a textbook. I also really enjoyed the mock blood draw activity. That’s when I started thinking, ‘Okay, I could really see myself doing this.’”
Step towards a career
After attending the camp, Britin decided to take another step toward health care when her high school, Lakeside Lutheran, offered the opportunity to take the CNA class for the first time.
“After the camp, I felt a lot more confident about trying health care classes,” Britin said. “Once I started the CNA class, I realized how much I genuinely loved helping people and learning the hands-on side of patient care.”
Her interest continued to grow, and she enrolled in Madison College’s Nursing Summer Camp at the Watertown campus. The opportunity is open to students entering grades 8-12 who want to explore nursing and healthcare careers.
Her parents, Matt and Elissa Zastrow, shared that watching Britin grow through this process has been especially meaningful.
“From our perspective, we couldn’t be happier or prouder of her,” Elissa said. “Britin spent a lot of time trying to figure out what direction she wanted to go after high school. Seeing her discover nursing and then grow so confident in that decision has been incredibly rewarding.”
Professional training
For Matt and Elissa, opportunities like the summer camp are important for teens making major decisions about their future.
“A lot of students reach their senior year without really knowing what career path they want to pursue, and honestly, that’s completely normal,” Matt said. “The camp gives students real hands-on exposure before making decisions about college or careers. Instead of just hearing about nursing, students actually get to experience what the profession is really like.”
What began as a summer camp experience has come full circle, with Britin now preparing to start the nursing program that first inspired her at Madison College.
Britin now encourages other students to take that same chance.
“Sometimes you don’t know if you’ll enjoy something until you actually try it. The camp gives you a chance to experience health care in a fun, low-pressure way, and you might end up discovering something you’re really passionate about, just like I did.”
Find more information on Madison College nursing program and nursing youth summer camp.
