The Seattle and King County Department of Public Health hosted its second annual Public Health Camp from August 5-9, 2024, with a clear mission: to uplift in the next generation of public health and community leaders. This camp, made possible in part by Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) funding, provided diverse King County residents, ages 15-23, with an immersive introduction to careers and services available in public health. As the nation faces a significant public health workforce shortage, initiatives like this camp are essential to inspire young people from diverse and underrepresented communities to consider a career in public health. By offering hands-on learning experiences and an introduction to career and education opportunities, the camp is building a student pipeline to the workforce, helping to ensure the sustainability of essential services that protect and promote community health.

PHIG funding allowed the health department to scale up their efforts this year: department leaders used the funding to extend the camp from three to five days, host more participants, and provide gift cards as stipends to ensure that participants did not have to choose between losing income from a summer job and attending the camp.

For the participants, the camp provided an opportunity to learn about the many career paths available in public health, meet professionals in the field, and explore services offered by their local health department. The camp also equipped participants with tools to advocate for themselves and their communities, offering sessions on how to use Narcan, promote safe driving, or respond to extreme weather events. The experience fostered a sense of belonging and empowerment, with many participants forming lasting connections with their peers, mentors, and camp staff.

For the health department, Public Health Camp serves as a powerful tool for strengthening community connections and building a more inclusive workforce. The camp not only creates lines of communication between the department and local youth, it kick starts opportunities for future engagement, such as internships and youth advisory roles. By investing in young people now, the health department is laying the groundwork for a stronger, more diverse public health workforce that will be better equipped to meet the needs of the communities it serves.

Learn more about the camp on Public Health – Seattle and King County’s blog, the Public Health Insider.