Adventures in Healthcare

Inspiring Tomorrow’s Healthcare Professionals

Adventures in Healthcare (AiHC) is an immersive program designed for Grade 10 and 11 students to explore a wide range of healthcare careers through hands-on learning, direct interaction with healthcare professionals, and real-world experiences.

Led by the Rotary Clubs of Terrace and Skeena Valley in partnership with School District 82, Northern Health, First Nations Health Authority, UNBC, and Coast Mountain College (CMTN), the program aims to inspire local students to consider careers in healthcare and encourage them to build their futures in the Northwest.

Program Highlights

Students participate in interactive activities and career exploration opportunities at healthcare, educational, and community facilities throughout the Terrace area, including Ksyen Regional Hospital, Coast Mountain College, UNBC, and Cedar Coast Dental.

Day 1 – Skill Building & Team Connection

Students begin by building connections with their peers and exploring foundational healthcare skills through hands-on activities, including:

  • Icebreakers and team-building activities
  • Nursing and wet-lab experiences
  • Vital signs monitoring and the use of medical equipment
  • Patient lifts and other practical healthcare skills
  • Pharmacy and occupational therapy
  • Naloxone administration
  • Social work discussions focused on issues relevant to youth

Day 2 – Hospital Simulation & Career Exploration

Students spend the day immersed in hospital-based learning and healthcare simulations, with opportunities to explore a variety of medical professions, including:

  • Simulated baby delivery and newborn care
  • CPR and emergency response
  • Respiratory therapy
  • Wound care
  • Diagnostic imaging and ultrasound
  • Physiotherapy
  • Opportunities to hear from local healthcare professionals and medical students about their education, career journeys, and experiences

Day 3 – Dental & Paramedical Experience

The final day provides students with additional hands-on experiences across dental, emergency response, nursing, and medical fields, including:

  • Dental procedures and demonstrations
  • Suturing and other practical activities
  • Anesthesia demonstrations
  • Emergency response demonstrations with paramedics
  • Nursing simulations, including CPR and baby care
  • Medical scenarios and patient-care activities
  • Social work discussions focused on racial equity and cultural healing
  • Exploration of brain and pain physiology
  • Sheep brain dissection

Program Goals

AiHC is designed to:

  • Inspire youth to pursue healthcare careers
  • Showcase local education and training pathways in the Northwest
  • Build student confidence through hands-on, real-world experiences
  • Introduce students to the many career opportunities available within healthcare
  • Help address the shortage of healthcare professionals in rural and northern communities
  • Encourage students to consider building their careers and lives in the Northwest

Community-Driven Success

AiHC is made possible through strong collaboration among education, healthcare, industry, and community partners, including:

  • Rotary Club of Terrace & Rotary Club of Terrace Skeena Valley
  • Northern Health
  • First Nations Health Authority
  • University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)
  • Coast Mountain College (CMTN)
  • Coast Mountains School District 82
  • Cedar Coast Dental
  • BC Nurses’ Union
  • LNG Canada
  • Rio Tinto
  • Northwest Trades & Employment Training Centre (NTETC)

Community partners contribute their expertise, facilities, resources, and support to create meaningful learning experiences for students.

AiHC demonstrates what is possible when schools, healthcare organizations, post-secondary institutions, industry, and community partners work together to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals.

"In just a few days, students gain not only knowledge, but also confidence, clarity, and excitement about their future in healthcare."

Partnership Links:

Rotary's Adventures in Healthcare webpage: https://adventuresinhealthcare.com/

Northern Health AiHC Story webpage: https://stories.northernhealth.ca/stories/terrace-and-kitimat-students-explore-health-care-careers-collaborative-program

University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) webpage: https://www.unbc.ca/

Coast Mountain College website: https://coastmountaincollege.ca/

Coast Mountain School District 82 website: https://www.cmsd.bc.ca/