My child wants to work with animals, should they become a veterinarian?

Veterinarian is often the first career we think of when it comes to working with animals, and it can be the perfect career for some people. However, pursuing the career is difficult, can be expensive, and might not be what everyone is looking for. There are a lot of ways you can work directly with animals, or indirectly support them. We discuss this at our career camps so join us to find out more!

Authorized Pick Up & ID Checking

For safety purposes we do not release children at pick up time to anyone not listed on the "authorized to pick up" list. We check ID daily at checkout time. To add someone to the authorized list, we must confirm you are one of the parents/guardians and then we can add additional names, or you can log into your account and add more yourself.

Making sure certain children are in the same group

During registration there is a section for "my child would like to be in the same class as" to add names. We group children by grade level first and only move older children down into younger groups. If you need your child with another child regardless of grade level, please contact the office to escalate your request.

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Rancho Santa Fe Full-Day Veterinarian Camp

Name: Rancho Santa Fe Full-Day Veterinarian Camp
Brand: Helen Woodward Animal Center
Price: 175.96 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.4 (903 reviews)

Explore veterinary skills through hands-on animal care activities

4.4 stars• 903 reviews

Duration

6 hrs

Includes

Vet instruction, animal encounters

Highlights

Let your child explore veterinary medicine through hands-on labs, animal interactions, and professional tools. Discover how animal-care teams examine, treat, and support a range of species.

Meet a veterinarian and ask questions about animal-care careers
Practice suturing, blood draws, injections, splinting, and bandaging on teaching tools
Examine microscope slides and identify animal bones
Perform a health check on a miniature horse using a stethoscope
Tour a companion animal hospital and explore canine CPR techniques

Itinerary

Campers rotate locations and activities every 30-45 min. They meet 4 different animals during certain activities and those are dispersed throughout the day. Campers also have a snack time which includes some free play, a lunch time which includes some free play, and a team-building game.
8:45-9:00: check in period, campers decorate their portfolios which are provided to them.
9:00-9:30: first activity. The class will discuss the day, camp rules, and icebreakers as well.
9:30-10:00: second activity (usually meeting the veterinarian)
10:00-10:30: third activity.
10:30-11:00: snack period.
11:00-11:45: fourth activity.
11:45-12:30: fifth activity.
12:30-1:15: lunch period.
1:15-2:00: sixth activity.
2:00-2:15: team game.
2:15-3:00: seventh activity.
3:00-3:15: check out period, campers stay circled up with their class and play quiet games.

What's Included

Veterinary instruction and hands-on labs
Animal interactions
Veterinary training models and equipment
Camper portfolio with worksheets and information sheets

Important details

Ages 9+ only
Requires independent restroom use
Arrive for check-in between 8:45 AM and 9:00 AM
Wear closed-toe shoes; sandals are not allowed
Do not wear clothing with drawstrings on the playground
Bring a labeled lunch, snack, and water bottle; food and drinks are not provided
Only people on the authorized pickup list may collect campers, and they must show photo ID
A signed medical authorization release is required for staff to administer medication
A $15 late fee per child applies beginning 10 minutes after checkout ends and every 15 minutes after that
Leave pets, toys, stuffed animals, sharp objects, and hazardous items at home
Animal species may vary based on health, safety, and availability

Cancellation Policy

Cancel more than 24 hours before camp for an 85% refund. No refund for cancellations within 24 hours.

Product ID: GPC3N6

FAQs

In order to give campers the best and most hands-on experience with veterinary professionals and tools, we have to cover the costs of those increased services and materials. However this is an experience like no other and is truly demonstrating equipment and skills used in the industry!

We run the same style of program on each date so they aren't designed to be different, but the half-day does have several different activities from the full-day!

As amazing as that sounds, unfortunately neither situation will occur. We aren't equipped to run surgeries with an audience and for safety purposes, we cannot have untrained people assisting with animal medical care. Campers will meet a veterinarian and see a hospital, taking a tour and not actively assisting the staff.

Review summary

4.4

Very Good

903 reviewsGoogle Maps

This veterinary hospital has built a loyal following over the years, with clients praising the genuine care and expertise of their medical team. Dr. Baghoyan gets special mentions for being knowledgeable and compassionate, and multiple reviewers emphasize how the staff actually listens and provides thorough, effective treatment without pushing unnecessary services. Several people make the point of driving 30+ minutes because they trust the care here more than closer options, and the affordability compared to central San Diego locations is a welcome bonus. The facility itself is impressive in size and serves double duty as both a vet hospital and adoption center. Most experiences reflect smooth appointments, same-day availability, and helpful staff who treat both pets and their owners with respect. A couple of recent visitors mentioned confusion around annual visit requirements for medication refills, which felt frustrating to longtime clients. Overall though, the pattern points to a veterinary practice that prioritizes animal welfare and honest communication, making it worth considering even if it means a longer drive for quality care.

What people are saying

Good experience

Frank Abrisham

October 18, 2026

Good experience

Frank Abrisham

October 18, 2026

Meeting details

Helen Woodward Animal Center - Humane Education Campus

Experience provided by Helen Woodward Animal Center

Book with confidence

No hidden fees
The price you see is the price you pay. Nothing is added at checkout.
A real concierge team
Questions, changes or special requests? Our concierge team sorts it out with the operator for you.
Flexible cancellation
Most experiences refund in full when you cancel within the cancellation window.