PHOTOS: Summer camps provide teens experience, career insights and fun
New additions in STEM and health care gave MSU Denver campers an inside look at their potential futures.
Alyson McClaran
July 29, 2026
New additions in STEM and health care gave MSU Denver campers an inside look at their potential futures.
From building smoke detectors to performing CPR, dozens of Denver area middle and high school students picked up some mad skills and got a taste of what future careers might look like at Metropolitan State University of Denver’s July summer camps.
Not the kind of camp where kids sing around a campfire and make s’mores, the weeklong STEM Challenge Camp and the four-day Healthcare Careers Collaborative Bootcamp gave students opportunities to explore potential careers like firefighting, speech and language therapy, nursing and engineering.
With guidance from MSU Denver faculty and working professionals, campers gained hands-on experience that introduced them to real-world careers and opportunities while they had fun. And they got T-shirts.
Alya Darnell, right, and Lucas Miller participate in the Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences (SLHS) breakout session during the Healthcare Careers Collaborative Boot Camp. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Cassidy Hanlon, left, and Maya Pegues communicate using only their hands during the Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences (SLHS) breakout session at the Healthcare Careers Collaborative Boot Camp. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Jessica Day leads a First Aid, CPR, and AED training session during the Healthcare Careers Collaborative Boot Camp at MSU Denver. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Ylinh Pham, left, talks to Cassidy Hanlon during the Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences (SLHS) breakout session at the Healthcare Careers Collaborative Boot Camp. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Ayleen Mendoza Rodriguez, left, and Emily Marmolejo Paz learn the correct way to hold an EpiPen during the First Aid, CPR, and AED training session at the Healthcare Careers Collaborative Boot Camp in the MSU Denver nursing skills lab. Photo by Alyson McClaran
A student learns the correct way to administer an EpiPen during the First Aid, CPR, and AED training session at the Healthcare Careers Collaborative Boot Camp in the MSU Denver nursing skills lab. Photo by Alyson McClaran
From left to right Maya Pegues, Thanh Nguyen, and Solome Walker learn the proper way to remove a contaminated glove during the Healthcare Careers Collaborative Boot Camp in the MSU Denver nursing skills lab. Photo by Alyson McClaran
From left to right Aubree Vandervoort, Victoria Hernandez, and Molly McDermott put on gloves to learn the proper way to remove a contaminated glove during the Healthcare Careers Collaborative Boot Camp in the MSU Denver nursing skills lab. Photo by Alyson McClaran
Camp specialist Hannah Mackay helps students Hannah Bouwmeester, center, and Annabel Evans build and test their smoke directors. Photo by Josh Geurink
Middle school students Spencer Proulx and Jocie Proulx assemble their smoke detector. Photo by Josh Geurink
Camp specialist Logan Duhon walks students through assembling their smoke directors. Photo by Josh Geurink
Middle school student Mateo Martinez assembles his smoke detector. Photo by Josh Geurink
Students test their smoke detectors during the Motorola Innovation Summer Camp at MSU Denver. Photo by Josh Geurink
Middle school students Hannah Bouwmeester, left, and Annabel Evans assemble their smoke director. Photo by Josh Geurink
Middle school student J.P. Baca and camp specialist Hannah Mackay practice coding a LED board. Photo by Josh Geurink
Firefighter David Anthony talks to high schoolers on the challenges and variety that comes with working with the Denver Fire Department. Photo by Josh Geurink
High school student Nathan Yohannes learns how to use a fire hose with Denver Fire Department Engineer Richard Gorman. Photo by Josh Geurink
High school students Gavin Lee, left, and Ylinh Pham learn how to operate and stand while using a fire hose. Photo by Josh Geurink
From elementary school student body president to college voter engagement ambassador, Madison Larsen always knew she’d make a difference in her community.
