MultiCare Academy for Students in Healthcare Camp

More Information

Camp Details

MultiCare Academy for Students in Healthcare is a free, five-day camp to explore careers in healthcare held every July. Daily camp hours are 8:30am – 4pm. Exact dates and location for M.A.S.H. Camp 2025 will be announced in January. 

At the end of M.A.S.H. camp, you’ll walk away with new skills, knowledge of health careers, scrubs, new friends, a more focused future and wonderful memories. Completion of the MultiCare M.A.S.H. Camp is an excellent addition to college and employment applications.

Applications for M.A.S.H. Camp July 2025 will be available online beginning January 6th, 2025. 

Who can apply?

Current high school sophomores, juniors and seniors in Pierce, South King, Kitsap, and North Thurston counties who are interested in nursing or other health-related careers and motivated to learn more are eligible to apply. Unfortunately, at this time we are not able to accept students outside of the counties listed above. 

A limited number of students will be admitted based on a total score awarded for all elements of their application, including a personal statement and a reference, as outlined on the application checklist.

If you are interested in attending camp, but experience barriers or challenges that you believe may prevent you from doing so, please reach out to us at [email protected]. All students are welcome to attend camp. If special accommodations are needed, please contact us so we can best support your success in camp.

Testimonials

Volunteer with M.A.S.H. Camp

Do you enjoy working with high school youth? Are you interested in supporting the operations of MultiCare’s Academy for Students in Healthcare (M.A.S.H.) Camp and providing encouragement to students interested in pursuing a health care career?

If so, please consider volunteering at our M.A.S.H. Camp in July 2025. Volunteers are essential to the success of the M.A.S.H. Camp! All volunteers must be at least 16 years of age. Days and times may vary. Health care experience is welcomed, but not required.

To volunteer, please email [email protected] and complete your MultiCare Tacoma General volunteer application (please note your interest in volunteering with M.A.S.H. Camp): Apply to volunteer.

Applicant FAQs

What kind of attire will I need to wear if I am accepted to the M.A.S.H. Camp?

Scrubs will be provided. Shoes must be closed toed. We recommend that shoes also be comfortable.

Will I get accepted if I apply early?

Each application is examined and applicants are accepted based on a variety of factors. We encourage you to apply early. Applicants MUST provide all the required/mandatory information on the application form.

Please note: Due to the volume of applications we receive, only the first 250 complete applications will be considered.

How many students are accepted in the camp?

The number of students accepted into M.A.S.H. Camp will vary based on location and hospital guidelines.

Can I apply for camp if I attended camp in the past?

Due to limited space, we extend the application to those who have not had the opportunity to experience this camp. You are only allowed to attend (be accepted into) M.A.S.H. Camp once.

Will I be allowed to attend camp if I am not from the counties listed?

Unfortunately, we will not accept applications from areas outside of Pierce, South King, Kitsap, and North Thurston counties.

How will reference surveys be submitted?

When completing the application, you will provide a link to your reference to complete. We will not accept paper or email submissions.

Is there a cost associated with M.A.S.H. Camp?

Our camp is a totally free, community-based enrichment program. We greatly appreciate the gracious donations we receive from a variety of community organizations and businesses, including support from the MultiCare Foundations and proceeds from Sound to Narrows.

When will I know if I am accepted?

Applicants who are accepted will be contacted via email, using the personal email that was provided to us in your application. Campers will be notified around the first week of May. Subsequently, once accepted to attend M.A.S.H. Camp we will have additional required documents to be completed and returned to us at the mandatory orientation (held in June, date TBD).

*Note: Please use a personal email account for your application. We do not recommend using school emails.

What should I do if I am not accepted for this year’s M.A.S.H. Camp?

Students who are currently a sophomore or junior, who are not granted acceptance to our program are encouraged to reapply the following year. A small number of students will be waitlisted; however, this does not guarantee admission to our program. Those students placed on a waitlist will be contacted if space becomes available. If no space becomes available and you are not selected to attend camp this year, please reapply next year.

Additional health care profession resources.

Do I need to have any medical knowledge or experience to apply?

Medical experience/knowledge is NOT required to apply or attend M.A.S.H. Camp. This is an opportunity to participate in activities and job shadows to help you determine if pursuing a healthcare career is right for you.

Will I be allowed to leave the camp early?

All campers are expected to stay for the duration of the camp (8:30am-4:00pm) and participate in all the activities unless previously arranged and authorized. If you are accepted and there is an emergency that arises, please let us know and we will make the necessary recommendations and/or accommodations for you.

Will I receive a confirmation if I apply online?

Yes, an auto response will generate and be sent to the personal email address (please do not use a school email) that you provided in the application. All responses will be delivered to your email. Please remember to check your email frequently. Some email responses may automatically populate to your junk/spam folders.

Can I turn in any of the required documents for the application late (e.g. reference survey, resume, application, and vaccination records)?

No, due to the popularity of our program we must adhere to the deadlines to be fair to all applicants and the M.A.S.H. Camp committee members that score the applications. Therefore, we will not accept late materials once the application closes.

Does the M.A.S.H. Camp application include essay questions?

Yes, there are three essay questions that you are required to complete, with a minimum word count of 150 words and max of 250 words. There is a fourth question that is optional, however, it is definitely recommended that you respond to this question. The fourth question gives us some insight about you personally, which will help you stand out from the other applicants.

Lastly, it is high recommended that you write your essay questions in a Word document, so you can track your word count and receive some assistance from the built-in grammar and spelling check feature. Once you have finalized your essay responses, simply copy and paste each response back into the space provided within the application titled “Essay Questions.”

Will I be able to save progress through application and submit once complete?

No, the application platform does NOT allow you to save your work. Please have all components prepared when you complete the application.

We recommend you prepare written items (such as survey question responses) in a Word document to prevent from losing your work.

Required immunizations and testing

Immunizations that you will need to submit in order to attend MultiCare’s Academy for Students in Healthcare Camp:

• Tuberculosis (TB) test (QuantiFERON Gold). Please note: TB skin tests will not be accepted.
• Proof of 2 MMR’s (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccinations or positive immunity results from a titer
• Proof of 2 Varicella (chicken pox) vaccinations or positive immunity results from a titer
• TDaP
• COVID-19 vaccination is not required. However, if you have received the COVID-19 vaccine, please provide record of vaccination.

TB testing requirements:

• QuantiFERON Gold
• TB skin test will not be accepted.

All of tests and immunizations are required per hospital policy, in order for you to be present on any MultiCare campus. For more specific details and information, please read below.

What if I do not have all of the required immunizations?

If you have not completed all required immunizations as instructed, you will need to complete them before the scheduled M.A.S.H. Camp orientation once accepted! These immunizations and tests are all required per MultiCare policy.

If you happen to have an allergy or have experienced an adverse reaction to any of the listed and required vaccinations. At the minimum, you will be required to provide proof of your reactions in a formal letter written by your doctor (on business letterhead) that states you cannot be given whatever immunization that caused you to have an adverse reaction.

That letter from your doctor, will need to be sent to [email protected], for formal approval from MultiCare Human Resources (HR). If the letter is approved by our HR department, you will be allowed to attend and fully participate in all scheduled activities during the M.A.S.H. Camp week.

If HR determines it would not be in your best interest to participate in our M.A.S.H. Camp, you will be notified and withdrawn from the camp roster.

What happens if my Tuberculosis (TB) test results come back positive?

You will need to schedule a doctor’s appointment to be evaluated by your physician. They will order additional tests and X-rays to confirm whether or not you definitively have TB. If your test results come back and it is deemed that you are positive for active TB, then you will need to be treated and your attendance to M.A.S.H. Camp is subject to withdrawal. Tuberculosis is a serious disease that attacks the lungs and could pose a significant risk to our already immunocompromised patients.

Where can I get TB testing (QuantiFERON gold) done other than my doctor’s office?

Once accepted into M.A.S.H. Camp, TB testing will be mandatory in order to participate in the camp all week. Testing is usually covered by most insurances and/or Medicaid. Please contact your insurance directly to confirm coverage.

Below is a list of locations in your area that provide TB testing. You can also visit this link for a list of Pierce County TB testing locations.

• Your primary care provider
• Most local pharmacies and in pharmacy clinics (Rite-Aid, Walgreens, Safeway, Walmart, etc)
• Most urgent care clinics (Indigo, Concentra, Prompt Care, etc)
• Labs (LabCorp, Laboratories NW, Quest, etc)
• Department of Health
• Sea-Mar Clinics

*You will need to contact/call the location(s) to confirm cost and ensure testing is available prior to being seen.

Do I need to complete my TB testing before I submit my application or before I learn whether or not I am accepted?

No, it is not a requirement to complete the Tuberculosis titer (QuantiFERON Gold) prior to completing your application or before we determine who is accepted into the M.A.S.H. Camp program.

However, we do recommend that you complete this testing early if you are able to do so! This will ensure you have your TB test completed in a timely manner, if accepted into M.A.S.H. Camp.

Reference Surveys

We no longer collect letters of recommendation. Instead, a link will be provided in the application that you will send to one identified reference to complete a survey.

Reference surveys can be completed by (but not limited to) teachers, former teachers, counselors, advisors, career counselors, coaches, employers, extracurricular activity advisors, club advisors, church or religious leaders or other adult mentors. Please do not use friends, family members, or friends of the family for recommendations. Choose someone who can speak to your unique strengths and skills.

 

 

Resume Samples and Tips

Resumes are a component of the application process for M.A.S.H. Camp. They replace transcripts, which are no longer required. We hope the process of writing a resume will support students in recognizing their individual strengths and develop real-world skills for future applications (higher education and beyond).

For your application, please prepare a resume that highlights your interest in healthcare or related fields, your extracurricular or academic experience, and any unique accomplishments, skills, or awards.

Please view sample resumes here.