Youth Vet Camp planned for Erie County Fair

This summer, youth will have the opportunity to work firsthand with veterinarians and animals during the Erie County Fair's inaugural Vet Camp. The half-day agricultural experience, scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 15, and Thursday, Aug. 17, will be geared for children 11-14 years of age and will focus on three specific areas of learning:

•Pet Wellness & First Aid: Children will learn about general pet welfare and what to do in an emergency situation. Participants will gain an understanding on how to perform CPR on a pet, what to look for when a pet is not feeling well, and what should be included in a home pet first aid kit.

•Farm Animal Health: Attendees will be exposed to what it takes to be a farm animal veterinarian through activities such as how to administer medication, the reading of vitals (heart rate, temperature, respiratory) and how to check for healthy rumen sounds.

•Equine Handling: How to approach and handle horses, check for healthy hooves, and what is proper equine nutrition will be part of the program. Children will have the chance to work one on one with a horse and learn how to properly move around a horse's flight zones.

The program is limited to two sessions that will accommodate 30 children each. Registration is now open and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost for participation is $10 per child.

Each participant will receive a Vet Camp T-shirt, lunch, and will take home a vet supplies goodie bag.

Applications are now online at www.ecfair.org and must be postmarked by Monday, May 29, to be eligible for consideration. Questions may be directed to the fair's agriculture education office at 716-649-3900, ext. 6499, or by emailing Education Coordinator Amber Klein at [email protected].

The 178th Erie County Fair will be held Aug. 9-20.