RAVS 2010 Schedule

[gone2dogs]

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Hi all! Just thought I'd let you know that the new RAVS schedule has been posted at http://www.ruralareavet.org/ in case anyone is interested. I went on a trip as a pre-vet last summer and had a fantastic experience! I ended up doing much more with people (clients) than with the animals, but it was still a great learning experience and I really enjoyed helping out and also meeting so many great vets and vet students! I am hoping to go on another trip this year, maybe even to the same area.

If you have vet tech experience you can volunteer as one (even if you aren't licensed) and you can also volunteer as a general helper. Even though I was sort of working the "front of the house" I was still given chances to observe and shadow in the different parts of the clinic. I am hoping to get more hands on animal experience this year, but honestly if they need me to do what I did last year again, I would enjoy that too!

I am far from an expert on the organization, but if you have any questions I can try to answer them!

 

[DVMDream]

This sounds like fun! And they have one in my state at the beginning of January when I will not be in school! I am going to have to think about this. I love volunteering but I have been without a job for the past 3 months and I will finally get some seasonal work in Dec-Jan. I have to see if I can afford losing a week of salary, but I think it just might be worth it! 🙂

 

[thereservoirdog]

Great organization. I didn't get a chance to volunteer with them last summer but I know one of the vets and a few volunteers. I would really, really recommend getting some experience with them if you can.

 

[DVMDream]

Great organization. I didn't get a chance to volunteer with them last summer but I know one of the vets and a few volunteers. I would really, really recommend getting some experience with them if you can.

It would be fun. I have tons of tech experience so I could actually sign up to be a vet tech/assistant. I just have to figure out if I can give up the week's worth of salary.

 

[quakk]

i've been 4 times - 2 as a vet tech, once as a vet student and once as a regular volunteer. i can't say enough good things about ravs.

 

[twelvetigers]

What parts are you expected to pay for yourself in a RAVS trip?

ETA: Reading, I see a $200 charge for vet students, but nothing for techs etc... so I would only have to buy plane tickets and figure out arrangements to ride with someone? And buy the supplies from the list?

Is it really a week without a shower? Lol. I don't care, but being packed in a van with others in the same situation... yum. Haha. What about cell phones? Is there a safe place to keep stuff while you're in clinic?

I'm asking because I'm actually really interested. Maybe a summer, small animal, ND or SD one? I'm impartial because nothing is close to Oklahoma.

 

[Angelo84]

Right you need to get yourself there so drive/fly whatever. Once at the trip location you need to be there in the morning so if you flew you likely had to come in the night before and then need lodging for the night. Same deal on the other end of the trip if you fly out you will need lodging that last night if you drive it depends how tired you are and how far away your live--its probably in your best interests to stay over somewhere and head out the next day.

The housing conditions can range from sleeping on the floor of the clinic to staying in dorms it just depends on what is available. You may have access to showers (+/- hot water) it just depends on the location. Some trips also move around so you could have dorms/showers for part of a week. From the time the trip starts until the last working day you are provided with food/soda/water (almost all res are dry so no alcohol).

I did SD lasts summer if you want specific info PM.

 

[gone2dogs]

What parts are you expected to pay for yourself in a RAVS trip?

ETA: Reading, I see a $200 charge for vet students, but nothing for techs etc... so I would only have to buy plane tickets and figure out arrangements to ride with someone? And buy the supplies from the list?

Is it really a week without a shower? Lol. I don't care, but being packed in a van with others in the same situation... yum. Haha. What about cell phones? Is there a safe place to keep stuff while you're in clinic?

I'm asking because I'm actually really interested. Maybe a summer, small animal, ND or SD one? I'm impartial because nothing is close to Oklahoma.

Since Angelo and I were on the same trip last year, I don't really have much to add... I was able to drive so that did save a lot of money. We met at a hotel in the morning, but I stayed at a different hotel that was $39 a night. I know some people even camped out the night before too. We were well fed the whole time, although they emphasize that you should have snacks with you just in case. For the week that I was there I got one shower, but it was because of the hot water situation... I'm not brave enough to take ice cold showers. But if you were you could have had one every day! But the living conditions vary widely from trip to trip. The good thing is that if you smell, everyone probably does!

Pre-Vets and vet techs don't have to pay a deposit... I ended up buying a pretty cheap stethoscope and digital thermometer, but didn't need them... I think those working more as a vet tech would though. I got extra scrubs at a thrift store, so only spend about $15 to get enough pairs for the week.

So the trip itself wasn't very expensive at all, it cost me more to pay for dog care while I was away than for the whole rest of the trip!

 

[eventualeventer]

Thanks for the link! I am veeeery interested (I just don't have time to fill out paperwork at the moment) in doing one as an equine tech (unlicensed) or a SA helper.

Did you guys do small animals or equine?

 

[gone2dogs]

Did you guys do small animals or equine?

The trip I went on was mixed small animal and equine... but it was really mostly small animal. A few vet students a day got to work with the equine vet and the rest of us were doing small animal stuff. I'm sure an exclusively equine trip would be very different though, so I can't really comment on that.

I hope you apply! I'm sure you will have a fantastic time either way!

 

[eventualeventer]

Woohoo! I'm going to NoDak on an equine-only trip in July (OK, it will be stinking hot). Anyone else doing RAVS trips this year? I got the roster, and I'll be the only non-vet student besides the RAVS tech and the vets. 😱

 

[rugbychick16]

Woohoo! I'm going to NoDak on an equine-only trip in July (OK, it will be stinking hot).

Don't count on it, I was back home doing some ultrasounding for an externship last July, and it was only 45 degrees one day. (Oh, this was after it snowed 3 inches in the beginning of June)
Of course it could just as easily be 100 degrees with a 50 mph wind. Ah, the joys of ND.

 

[GeeQued]

Woohoo! I'm going to NoDak on an equine-only trip in July (OK, it will be stinking hot). Anyone else doing RAVS trips this year? I got the roster, and I'll be the only non-vet student besides the RAVS tech and the vets. 😱

I'm waitlisted for one of the dakota equine only trips.

 

[ADM1220]

Do you know if they sent out the schedule/acceptances for all trips? I didn't get an email. 🙁

 

[canis13]

i went on a week long trip last may, but didn't get put on any summer trips this year :-(. i will be going on the monterey county trip over my spring break in march...anyone else?

 

[Truth74]

I am working on logistics to go on an HSVMA-RAVS trip to ND in June.

I also went on two trips as a non-vet student volunteer. I did a little bit of everything, except actual surgery on both of the trips.
I flew on one trip and drove on the other. I'm not sure which way I'll go. I think it depends on the car and how much it costs to fly.

 

[Myotis]

Do you know if they sent out the schedule/acceptances for all trips? I didn't get an email. 🙁

It depends on which one you're trying to get on to. I applied for the corvelo/hoopa ca trip. There's a waitlist, but they haven't made any decisions from the sounds of it. I keep getting emails saying they are in the process of reviewing applications. I really hope I can go this summer, if not than hopefully something next year

 

[Myotis]

Does anyone know if they email you if you don't make it?

 

[canis13]

Does anyone know if they email you if you don't make it?

yeah, i got two emails in early december saying i was not accepted to be on any of the 4 summer trips i listed (spirit lake & fort berthold, ND; standing rock and cheyenne river, SD). somewhat surprising since i was able to go on a week long trip to whiteriver, AZ last summer. they did accept me for a 3 day trip in march, but i was really hoping to spend 2 weeks doing RAVS trips this summer. oh well.

 

[Ausheya]

Woohoo! I'm going to NoDak on an equine-only trip in July (OK, it will be stinking hot). Anyone else doing RAVS trips this year? I got the roster, and I'll be the only non-vet student besides the RAVS tech and the vets. 😱

I applied for one of the equine only trips in ND, but haven't heard back yet, aside from updates about how they're still going through the applications.

 

[Myotis]

I just heard back about the Hoopa/Covelo trip. They wanted to set up a phone interview of sorts to find out more about my experience and answer any questions I may have about the program. Any one else get a similar email? And did anyone else apply for the Hoopa/Covelo trip?

 

[eventualeventer]

Snow in June? Charming.

Myotis, I had a phone interview before they made decisions for my trip. It was pretty informal; she (I've forgotten her name, but I could look it up if you want) just asked me what I had done at the jobs I listed and why I wanted to do a trip, then I asked about how many horses they typically saw (answer: very variable!).

 

[ADM1220]

I just heard back about the Hoopa/Covelo trip. They wanted to set up a phone interview of sorts to find out more about my experience and answer any questions I may have about the program. Any one else get a similar email? And did anyone else apply for the Hoopa/Covelo trip?

i received the same email for the hoopa/covelo trip. did you interview yet?

 

[kittenj]

Anyone else going to ND this June?

I don't post often, but I'm here lurking all the time. I'm interested in carpooling if anyone is going along the same route as me... I'm from SE Iowa, could go through Ames or the Twin Cities if someone at either ISU or MN is going. Or if someone from further south or east wants me to join them I'm all for it.

I looked at plane tickets just out of curiosity, for some reason it is ~$100 CHEAPER to fly from Moline to Twin Cities, and then take the EXACT SAME flight from MN to Bismark... 😕 But unless gas gets crazy expensive it will still be a lot cheaper to drive.

I've been to Pine Ridge/Cheyenne River with RAVS before, super excited to be going on a RAVS trip again!

 

[Myotis]

Yup, I interviewed on Sunday, have you? What did you apply for? I had to apply for the "other volunteer" category this time around as I don't have any tech experience (just kennel staff).

 

[Ben and Me]

Kittenj-I am going to Pine Ridge this summer. Any insight?

Thanks!

 

[gone2dogs]

Kittenj-I am going to Pine Ridge this summer. Any insight?

Thanks!

Me too! I worked with the lead vet last summer at Cheyenne River and thought she was fantastic (she was more like 2nd in charge there... so looking forward to a trip that she is fully in charge of too)!

I'm wondering if anyone has any insight on what sort of housing we might look forward to at Pine Ridge... I was pleasantly surprised by the nice dorms we got to stay in at Cheyenne River, so I'm afraid my standards may have been set too high!

I haven't seen a roster yet (have you Ben and Me? Hopefully I didn't miss it!)), so I'm curious if there will be other pre-vet types this year (last year I was the only one).

Anyway, just piping in that I too would love to hear more about Pine Ridge from people who have been there. It is looking hopeful that one of my vet friends may be going on the trip too, which will make the drive and trip even more fun🙂.

 

[kittenj]

@ Myotis - I spoke to Erin on the phone Sunday... I had originally applied for the Standing Rock/Cheyenne River trip, but mentioned I'd be open to going to any of the SD/ND trips. Windi wrote me to ask if I would be availible for Spirit Lake/Fort Berthold and since I was she added me to that rooster. I'm going as a volunteer professional - I've been a vet assistant for ~6 years.

@ Ben and Me / gonetodogs - I went to PR/CR Summer 2008, with the trip lead by Dr. Susan Monger. I heard she's no longer doing the Dakotas trips, so there will be a new lead vet. I had a great time, but be prepared to be up from dawn to dusk... working hard 🙂 Both trips had us housed in school dormatories, with running water. In Pine Ridge most of the food was provided through the local gas station, and community members prepared our food in Cheyenne River.

 

[meteredspot]

Hey all

I applied for the Hoopa Covelo trips. Has anyone done these consecutively?? Just wondering if the only way to get from one site to the other is via car...

 

[Myotis]

Hey all

I applied for the Hoopa Covelo trips. Has anyone done these consecutively?? Just wondering if the only way to get from one site to the other is via car...

I live about 30-40 miles from Hoopa, and Covelo is between where I live now and my home town, and yes, the only way to get from one site to the other is via car...or bus. But I've never done the trip (or any other RAVS trip), nor have I ever been to Hoopa or Covelo...

 

[meteredspot]

Ah, okay. I assume people carpool and make the trip together.. I'm more nervous about the travel logistics than the actual trip..

 

[Myotis]

Ah, okay. I assume people carpool and make the trip together.. I'm more nervous about the travel logistics than the actual trip..

Yea, I'm sure they do

 

[meteredspot]

Has anyone heard back or confirmed for any more RAVS trips?

 

[Myotis]

Still waiting, I was told I should expect to hear back from them by the end of this week

 

[jos05]

I had a phone interview last Sunday and I am waiting to hear back as well!

 

[Myotis]

Yay! I'm on the Covelo/Hoopa trip!

 

[meteredspot]

Me too!!

 

[Myotis]

 

[Myotis]

I meant 🙂 haha