From Aug. 20 to Aug. 24, the Animal Welfare Society’s Humane Education program will offer its first Animal Care Intensive, a week-long series of hands-on STEM-focused workshops for high school students deeply interested in pursuing a career in animal care or veterinary sciences.
According to a press release issued by AWS, the AWS Community Veterinary Clinic and AWS Adoption Center will play a large role in the students’ education as they spend two days working side-by-side with veterinarians, veterinary technicians and animal care technicians to learn how a bustling clinic and busy animal shelter operate.
Student participants will observe surgeries, follow cleaning and safety protocols and assist with animal care.
Following a day-long workshop at IDEXX Laboratories in Westbrook that will introduce students to the work engineers do to design and create veterinary instruments, laboratory technicians will involve students in running diagnostic tests and drawing conclusions from the results.
The program also features field trips to the Center for Wildlife in Cape Neddick and the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals in Windham will introduce students to the care of and professions related to wild animals and livestock, respectively.
Students in the program will meet with wildlife rehabilitators, equine veterinarians and farriers to learn the resources and skills needed to care for these animals.
“Kids begin to age out our current Humane Education programs as they enter high school,” says Brie Roche, AWS Assistant Humane Educator and creator of the workshop series. “ACI brings these animal-loving students back into the fold as they begin to prepare for their futures. The STEM-based curriculum, workshops, demonstrations and interactive lessons will enlighten students to the vast array of career opportunities they could pursue.”
Application of the program, which includes a one- or two-page essay, are due by June 30.
Porgram applications can be requested by contacting Roche at 985-3244 ext. 109 or by email at [email protected].
For more details about ACI, visit http://animalwelfaresociety.org/programs/humane-education/animal-care-intensive/.
The Animal Welfare Society is a non-profit organization and is dedicated to providing humane shelter and care to companion animals temporarily in need of housing, to assist in disaster response and to further the cause of responsible animal adoption and ownership through education and public awareness.
The society actively promotes kindness, the elimination of cruelty and neglect to all animals, and the lifelong commitment of people to their pets.
— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at [email protected]
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