. Kids can watch as turtles receive physical exams, have their wounds cared for, get blood drawn from their bodies, and have X-rays completed. Educational explanations accompany each procedure and treatment.
After watching the vets treat live turtles, children can head to a station that allows them to make virtual medical decisions for three hypothetical turtle patients by conducting a physical exam, drawing blood, and studying x-rays in order to diagnose the turtle’s health problem. If you can’t get to Georgia, check your local zoo or aquarium for similar programs.
Veterinary schools, like Cornell and Purdue, often host yearly open houses for prospective students, . Many colleges with veterinary programs also have summer camps for high school students, some of which showcase how specialized the profession can be. Specialization was a great relief to my daughter—not every vet treats every animal. Upon learning this information, she declared that she was going to be a veterinarian for farm animals only, allowing her to keep her dream alive while decidedly avoiding sea and land creatures with pointier teeth.