Camp Counselor volunteer - clinical or non-clinical?

[Schadret]

My daughter volunteers at a sleep-away camp for kids with cancer. As a survivor herself, this is very near-and-dear to her and will mostly likely be her main volunteering focus for the next few summers since it's so special for her.

She's a camp counselor, lives in the cabin with the kids and does all your normal camp-counselor stuff (activities, talking with the kids, help them meet their goals, etc).

In terms of med school applications, is this considered clinical or non-clinical?

If it's non-clinical, what is the "type" of activity in the AMCAS list of types? I only see

Community Service/Volunteer - Medical/Clinical
Community Service/Volunteer - Non Medical/Clinical

I don't see non-clinical volunteering.. would it be "Other" or did I miss the non-clinical ones when I made the list?

Thanks!

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[labscience]

Kids at camp are just kids at camp-- it doesn't sound like they're considered "patients" there, just "campers." It would only stray into clinical territory if a large part of her job was providing care (like a camp nurse), taking them to doctor's appointments, etc.

It would be Community Service/Volunteer- Non Medical/Clinical. It's just poorly worded on the AMCAS app, but Non Medical/Clinical means Non Medical/Non Clinical.

 

[LizzyM]

Non-clinical. They are not patients, they are campers!

 

[OchemOficionado]

Definitely not clinincal.

Community Service/Volunteer - Non Medical/Clinical

 

[Schadret]

Thanks all, that's what I figured but since they do have an illness and do get treated/treatments while there I wasn't totally sure.

 

[LizzyM]

Working as a barista in the coffee shop in the hospital is not employment/clinical even if some of the customers are getting treatments while they are in the building. Ditto for kids at camp.

 

[Goro]

Non-clinical. They are not patients, they are campers!

It's still a very nobel volunteering effort.

This is one of the few times I'll disagree with my learned colleague. This is a group of campers, true, but they have something very clinical in common. The fact that they're not in a clinical setting doesn't make them any less of a set of patients with a disease that brings one up close and personal with our mortality.

 

[Wayfinder]

Hi,
So I have been actively involved in the medical camping industry for 4 years now and have talked to a few people about how to categorize my experiences. What I was told by an ADCOM for my undergrad's medical school that if there are medical professionals on site you can classify the hours to fit the needs for you application.
Having worked with kids with cancer (as well as other diseases and disabilities) at sleep away camps there have been nights I have slept with kids in the camps medical facility because they were having a bad night and couldn't be with the rest of the kids in the cabin. I have also provided personal care for campers (much like a CNA). I have been in charge of making sure the kids receive medication they need, or with them for other medical needs. Camp also provides a place for these children to talk and share deep emotional fears or experiences with their fellow campers and counselors. However camp also provides a place were kids can be kids and you are also providing them with emotional support as human beings, not patients.
Personally I would see what your daughters experience is like, and then she can use the hours as she most needs them. I found personally as a volunteer I did more of the non-clinical side of things, and it was when I became a paid staff member I handled more emergent situations or emotionally charged situations that I felt fell on the clinical side.What my UG's ADCOM told me is you have to be able to justify it. I was also told you can split the hours accordingly. I'm familiar with a few different camps volunteer programs and I know most are large service requirements so if she has room on her application she could split the hours into the division of clinical to non-clinical.
Off topic: if your daughter has a great time volunteering this summer I would suggest looking into paid positions in the future. They offer a greater responsibility that is an amazing learning experience.
I hope she has fun!