San Diego teens are getting a unique opportunity to dive into the world of public health, thanks to a collaboration between County Public Health Services and the San Diego County Office of Education. In its second year, the Public Health Advocate Camp welcomes high school students into the fold to learn, engage, and possibly lay the groundwork for future careers. This year's attendance has seen an uptick, with 38 students signing up, according to the County of San Diego.
The week-long camp, hosted at the Linda Vista Innovation Center from Monday to Friday, is no ordinary summer gathering. It gives teens insights into health topics particularly relevant to their demographic, and it's not just talk. Here, participants create public health campaigns, mirroring the real, critical work health professionals do daily. Enrollment in the program is via a previously held application process, which is now closed for this year. Still, those interested should keep an eye out next April when the gates open again for applications, shared through local schools, as per details from the County of San Diego.
One participant from last year shared her experience with the program. "I’ve been thinking of going into the medical field, but also Public Health is something that I was looking into. It looks very interesting", she said, as per the County of San Diego. The impact of such advocacy work was not lost on the teens, as the same student appreciated the ripple effect a well-crafted media campaign could have on community safety.
