Before summer, we recently finished doing some of our after-school enrichment programs in Port Saint Lucie with Renaissance Charter School of St. Lucie. Read more about our partnership with them and experiences from our instructors teaching it!
What kind of after-school programs do you do in Port Saint Lucie with Renaissance Charter School of St. Lucie?
Instructor Ms. Melanie: Since the beginning of our partnership with them we have done our Little Doctor School after-school program, our Little Veterinarian School after-school program, and our Wilderness Medicine after-school program.
What do you teach at these programs?
Instructor Ms. Melanie: We teach medicine (both human and animal) in the form of hands-on learning and role-playing. So for the whole six weeks, we dress up as doctors, veterinarians, and wilderness medicine professionals to learn about topics such as dog hydration, sutures, splints, tourniquets, and more.
What is it like teaching these programs for Little Medical School of the Treasure Coast?
Instructor Ms. Melanie: I love it! I have so much fun doing them. It’s really great seeing some of the kids return again to do the next after-school program as well. They learn things they never have a chance to learn during regular school hours and a lot of kids are interested in these topics, so it’s important to foster that interest.
What were you hesitant about going into this year?
Instructor Ms. Melanie: Nothing at all! The coordinator is so friendly and the kids are always ready to learn and have fun. We feel really welcome at the school.
What do you hope to do this upcoming school semester differently?
Instructor Ms. Melanie: Explore more of our programs with them! We have tons, including our Little Dental School after-school program and our Little Nursing School after-school program.
What did your days look like with them?
Instructor Ms. Melanie: I usually arrive about 10 minutes early to bring in the supplies and get everything ready. We have one lesson a week over the span of six weeks. About ten minutes before class ends, we review a bit and get ready to go home. We don’t pressure the kids too much to learn, but we do want to make sure they go home knowing the core concepts of the lesson.
How important do you think this kind of educational summer camp is for the Port Saint Lucie community?
Instructor Ms. Melanie: There isn’t anything like this in Port Saint Lucie or the Treasure Coast area. All the other instructors and I really care about making a difference and inspiring kids to dream big. The ultimate goal is to encourage them to pursue healthcare careers when they are older. At the same time, we want to be a positive role model for these kids and teach them that learning can be fun.
Find Little Medical School of the Treasure Coast classes near you: