Jul 2025
Campers Learn about Design and Construction Careers
July 2025 - A behind-the-scenes tour of a 660,000 square foot hospital building that’s not yet open gave some Adventures in HealthCare Camp campers a perspective most people will never experience.
Led by Mike Hayes, BJC vice president of planning, design and construction, and Donna Ware, BJC executive director of planning and design, the 7th and 8th grade children of BJC HealthCare and Washington University School of Medicine employees donned hard hats and safety vests and learned about nonclinical careers in healthcare.
“When people think of jobs at BJC, they think clinical,” says Hayes. “We wanted to show the kids a whole different side of health care and how our department supports the care that clinicians provide.”
One of the stops along the tour was an 8th floor acute inpatient room, one of 224 in the new Plaza West Tower at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Ware explained how her team has informed and improved the layout of the room, which is an evolution of design standards at BJC.
“When a nurse or caregiver walks into a patient room, they immediately know where everything is, in this building, Parkview Tower, or any number of hospitals at BJC,” Ware told the students.
For 20 years, BJC’s Adventures in HealthCare Camp has offered both a potentially life-changing opportunity — as well as a week of fun and learning.
Held for a week each summer, the camp is open to seventh- and eighth-grade children of all BJC HealthCare and Washington University School of Medicine employees.
Adventures in HealthCare Camp was inspired by Take Your Children to Work Day, says Jennifer Irvin, BJC school/community education partner, who has headed the program since its inception.
“It’s a great way to provide middle school students with exposure to multiple careers,” says Irvin. “The hospitals put a lot of time and thought into coordinating a schedule that provides five full days of learning about careers and participating in interactive activities.”
Irvin says the interactivity makes Adventures in HealthCare Camp a special experience for attendees. Campers often go to places, such as operating rooms and simulation labs, that most visitors can’t. They also practice hands-on skills, such as suturing or basic CPR.
“Several campers have even gone on to pursue careers in health care, and a few are now BJC employees,” Irvin adds.
Hayes says he hopes the tour inspires at least one of them to consider a career in engineering, architecture, construction or project management. “It was fun to share with them our backgrounds, how we decided on our careers and what types of jobs it takes to plan, design and build a hospital.”