MASH Camp Gives 33 Students Hands-On Healthcare Experience
June 2, 2026
Malone, Saranac Lake camps upcoming
TICONDEROGA — Thirty-three high school juniors and seniors from across Essex County, including CV-TEC and New Visions program students, explored careers in healthcare during the Medical Academy of Science and Health (MASH) Camp, hosted by North Country Community College and Elizabethtown Community Hospital on May 18 and 19.
Organized and sponsored by Hudson Mohawk AHEC, the free two-day camp provided students with immersive, hands-on experiences designed to introduce them to a variety of healthcare professions and educational pathways.
Day one, held at North Country Community College's Ticonderoga campus, featured interactive
sessions in occupational therapy, nursing and Stop the Bleed training. Students participated
in a simulated triage exercise in the college's nursing simulation lab, where "patients"
with realistic injuries and illnesses created the fast-paced environment healthcare
professionals encounter every day. During occupational therapy activities, students
worked in teams to solve real-world caregiving challenges and develop strategies to
help patients maintain independence.
The camp concluded with Stop the Bleed training, where participants learned life-saving emergency response techniques and earned Stop the Bleed certification.
On day two at Elizabethtown Community Hospital, students explored additional healthcare specialties, including pharmacy, paramedicine and outpatient rehabilitation. Participants learned about hospital pharmacy operations, created mock medications and conducted laboratory experiments. They toured an ambulance and learned about advanced emergency medical equipment that allows paramedics to provide critical care in the field. Students also visited the hospital's outpatient rehabilitation center, where they experienced technologies including an anti-gravity treadmill and blood flow restriction therapy equipment.
MASH Camp is designed to help students explore healthcare careers while connecting them with local educational and employment opportunities in the region's growing healthcare sector.
Upcoming Camps
Additional MASH Camps are scheduled for this summer at North Country Community College's Malone and Saranac Lake campuses. Students interested in participating can learn more and register at North Country Community College's MASH Camp page.