INA, Ill. (August 12, 2026) — A group of curious kids stepped into the roles of doctors, nurses, radiographers and emergency responders at Rend Lake College's two-day Future Health Care Warriors camp.
During the first session, campers were introduced to the patient care process through an interactive "Teddy Bear Clinic," where each student received a plush bear patient and were guided through every step of a standard hospital visit to translate medical concepts into accessible, hands-on learning.
The care journey began at check-in, where campers verified the patient names and placed official hospital ID bracelets on their bears. The kids then moved through clinical stations to measure vital signs using professional health care equipment, listen to heart and lung sounds with stethoscopes and perform diagnostics using mock blood draws and the same classroom X-ray machinery utilized by RLC college students. After administering treatment through bandaging, shots, IV lines and simulated blood transfusions, campers wrapped up the visit at discharge by scheduling follow-up appointments and filling prescriptions.
Students then took their learning outdoors for an anatomy challenge, designed to reinforce skeletal system concepts. Working in pairs on the sidewalk, campers traced each other’s outlines in chalk and were tasked with correctly identifying and placing 10 major bones within the skeletal structure.
The second session focused on career discovery, allowing campers to tour RLC's Allied Health programs and interact directly with professional-grade medical technology. The hands-on exploration began with the Emergency Medical Services team, where campers climbed inside a real ambulance, inspected life-support equipment and participated in a discussion on the protocols for calling 911 during an emergency.
Participants also stepped inside the radiology program's imaging suite to learn the fundamentals of radiography and observe diagnostic X-ray machinery in action. To conclude the evening, students visited the Nursing Department’s simulation lab, using stethoscopes to listen to high-tech patient manikins capable of emulating real human biological functions, including heartbeats and respiration.
Throughout both sessions, campers demonstrated curiosity, critical thinking and empathy. RLC is proud to provide opportunities that inspire young minds and foster an early interest in health sciences.
For more information about the Allied Health Division, visit rlc.edu/allied-health-division or email ah_info@rlc.edu.