K-12 Youth Opportunities

We are working to compile a comprehensive resource directory for all youth opportunities that exist within Penn State. For registration information or program questions, please visit the websites associated with your program of interest.

Types of Opportunities for K-12 Youth

Program
4-H Programs There’s no better place than 4-H for building the foundation of success. We are a community of encouraging adults and welcoming kids who love to roll up our sleeves and learn by doing. We work, serve, and have fun together through all kinds of projects. We participate in events and activities through clubs, in school-based and afterschool programs, and as individual members.
21st Century Kids Program Location: Penn State Behrend campus Grades: 7–8 The 21st Century Kids Program is designed to bring youth from rural populations to Penn State Behrend and provide exposure to opportunities available through post-secondary education. Available to students from Forest and Warren County School Districts.
Adopt a Seedling Location: The Arboretum at Penn State Celebrate the American Public Gardens Association’s Go Public Gardens Days! by visiting The Arboretum at Penn State to pot and take home a tomato or zinnia seedling. This program occurs in May.
Behrend Business Day Location: Penn State Behrend campus Grades: 9–12 Behrend Business Day is designed to help students from Erie, Crawford, and Allegheny County high schools gain an understanding of business basics by having them participate in a variety of activities in mock business courses.
College-Bound STEM Academy Location: Penn State Abington campus Grades: 9–12 Penn State Abington and KleinLife have partnered to provide a STEM–based high school enrichment program for KleinLife families and neighborhood high school students. This collaborative effort aims to enhance educational opportunities and outcomes for high school students in the Northeast Philadelphia community.
COMETS STEM Program Location: Penn State New Kensington campus Grades: 6–8 The Courses on Math, Engineering, Technology and Science (COMETS) Program is a STEM initiative of both education and industry. COMETS is directed at supporting and guiding middle school students as they gain confidence in their abilities in science, math, engineering and technology.
Earth and Mineral Sciences Exposition (EMEX) Location: Penn State University Park campus Grades: 10–12 The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences annual student-run open house. You can attend information sessions and learn about the many majors that we offer. You will also be able to talk with our professors, staff, and current students.
Empower Conference: Building Connections Through Community Location: State College, PA Grades: 9–12 Empower is an annual networking and professional development conference for people working in or interested in STEM fields hosted by the Graduate Women in Science (GWIS). This conference is open to everyone, including high school students, undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, faculty, staff, and other community members.
EnvironMentors Location: Penn State University Park, Penn State Shenango, Penn State Harrisburg, and Penn State Schuylkill campuses Grades: 9–12 EnvironMentors is a college access program for underrepresented and underserved high school students across the country, created by the Global Council for Science and the Environment (GCSE). EnvironMentors has the mission to mentor and motivate high school students from underrepresented and underserved communities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). In the Penn State model of EnvironMentors, high school students are paired with a faculty or staff mentors and undergraduate student mentors. Together, they plan and conduct research projects throughout the academic year. This research is culminated into a presentation to be given at the Penn State EnvironMentors research symposium at the end of the academic year.
Envision: STEM Career Day Supporting Young Women Location: Penn State University Park campus Grades: 6–12 The primary goal of ENVISION: STEM Career Day Supporting Young Women is to help girls and young women see themselves in the STEM fields. However, ENVISION is open to all students who are currently in grades 6 to12. Throughout this experience, ENVISION attendees will hear inspiring speakers, learn from Penn State scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and technology experts, and participate in informal conversations with students and professional scientists. If you want to learn what women in STEM do, what they can accomplish, and how STEM is relevant to your own journey, this is the event for you! This event typically takes place in February each year.
Girl Scout STEM Badge Day Location: Penn State Behrend campus Each year, Penn State Behrend invites Girl Scouts to the college for Girl Scout STEM Badge Day, a fun-filled day of activities in science, technology, engineering, and math. The program is offered with Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania, the regional council that serves over 20,000 girl members in partnership with over 10,000 adult members throughout 27 counties.
Girls Who Code Location: Penn State University Park campus Grades: 6–12 Girls Who Code Club at Penn State is a free coding club for local middle and high school students! During the first several weeks, students will be able to learn introductory coding concepts or expand their current coding skills.
Mark Cuban AI Boot Camp Location: Pittsburgh, PA Grades: 9–12 With support from the Readiness Institute at Penn State, the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp is an opportunity for high school students to immerse themselves in artificial intelligence and machine learning. No prior experience with coding is required for participation.
Math Options Location: Penn State Behrend campus Grades: 7–8 Math Options was designed to provide information on careers in these fields to students at a time when they are making important academic decisions. Students from schools in Erie, Crawford, Potter, Venango, and Warren counties attend the Math Options program.
Model UN Location: Penn State Behrend campus Grades: 9–12 Penn State Behrend hosts an annual High School Model UN Conference each April. High school students can engage in diplomatic role-play and simulate one of the bodies on the United Nations. They discuss real-world events from the perspective of real governments, whose delegations they will represent. They also engage in negotiation and diplomacy.
Pathways to Your Future: Exploring STEAM Careers Location: Penn State York campus Grades: 7 and 10 This free program introduces students to professionals from academia, medicine, government agencies, business, and industry for a day of workshops and discussion. It also provides teachers with information to guide students toward career opportunities in STEAM fields. The workshops are held in May.
PULSE: Pre-health program for underrepresented leaders in STEM education Location: Penn State College of Medicine and virtual Grades: 9–12 Educational outreach program run by medical students, geared toward high school students interested in biomedical sciences.
Saturday Art School Location: Penn State University Park campus Established in 2004, Penn State’s Art Education Program began Saturday Art School for students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Historically, these classes have been taught by advanced art education students in collaboration with art education faculty and graduate teaching assistants and were held in studio classrooms in the Patterson Building, the Visual Arts Building and the Arts Cottage on the University Park campus.
Shark Tank Competition Location: Penn State Fayette campus Every year, the Fayette LaunchBox hosts a Shark Tank competition in which entrepreneurs pitch to the community ways their product or service can benefit the local marketplace. Winners are awarded cash prizes they can use to grow their business ventures. This event will only be available to students enrolled at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, as well as local community members and high school students from Fayette and Greene Counties.
Sports Camps Location: Penn State Beaver campus Penn State Beaver Athletics Department offers fall and winter sports camps where children will gain and improve technical sports skills and self-confidence from Penn State Beaver’s coaches and athletes.
Swim Lessons Location: Penn State Harrisburg campus Ages: 4–14 Swim lessons available during the fall, winter and spring.
Tennis Clinics Location: Penn State University Park campus Training clinics offered throughout the academic year.
Upward Bound Location: your home school, Penn State University Park campus, and other locations Upward Bound is a federally funded program that helps high-school students gain academic skills and motivation to continue their education beyond high school. From September through May, students participate in individual meetings in their home schools and by attending monthly Saturday programs held at Penn State’s University Park campus and other locations. The following summer, students participate in a six-week residential program from mid-June to the end of July. Educational, cultural, and recreational activities are offered, such as study skills, financial aid, time management, choosing a major, leadership development, and team building.
Wilkes-Barre Launchbox Student Engagement Experiences Location: Wilkes-Barre Launch Box Grades: 9–12 Wilkes-Barre LaunchBox Student Engagement Experiences are all about engaging students from our area schools and Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus to explore entrepreneurial opportunities including, but not limited to, teen entrepreneur challenge, dual enrollment, FBLA Leadership & Entrepreneurship Workshop, and more!
Women in Engineering Day Location: Penn State Behrend campus Grades: 10–11 Women in Engineering Day introduces students to what an engineer does and what kinds of engineering careers are available and explains how engineers help the world in general. Membership or participation in this program is not limited by sex or gender. This program is open to all applicants who satisfy its academic criteria.
Women in Engineering Program Location: Penn State University Park campus The Penn State Women in Engineering (WEP) mission is to recruit students into engineering, retain undergraduate engineers and facilitate academic success, catalyze career development of engineers through advocacy and action, and actively promote an equitable and productive academic environment in the College of Engineering. They offer Girl Scout Saturdays, Middle School “Engineer Your Future,” and other opportunities for interested youth.
Women in Technology Day Location: Penn State Behrend campus Grades: 9–12 Women in Technology Day introduces high school students to the different careers available in the fields of technology, focusing specifically on computing. Membership or participation in this program is not limited by sex or gender. This program is open to all applicants who satisfy its academic criteria.
Writing Day Location: Penn State University Park campus Grades: 9–12 Penn State Writing Day offers a communal meditative writing experience as well as intimate generative writing workshops on screenwriting, writing for musical theatre, academic essays, poetry, and memoir.

Program

4-H Programs

There’s no better place than 4-H for building the foundation of success. We are a community of encouraging adults and welcoming kids who love to roll up our sleeves and learn by doing. We work, serve, and have fun together through all kinds of projects. We participate in events and activities through clubs, in school-based and afterschool programs, and as individual members.

21st Century Kids Program

Location: Penn State Behrend campus
Grades: 7–8

The 21st Century Kids Program is designed to bring youth from rural populations to Penn State Behrend and provide exposure to opportunities available through post-secondary education. Available to students from Forest and Warren County School Districts.

Adopt a Seedling

Location: The Arboretum at Penn State

Celebrate the American Public Gardens Association’s Go Public Gardens Days! by visiting The Arboretum at Penn State to pot and take home a tomato or zinnia seedling. This program occurs in May.

Behrend Business Day

Location: Penn State Behrend campus
Grades: 9–12

Behrend Business Day is designed to help students from Erie, Crawford, and Allegheny County high schools gain an understanding of business basics by having them participate in a variety of activities in mock business courses.

College-Bound STEM Academy

Location: Penn State Abington campus
Grades: 9–12

Penn State Abington and KleinLife have partnered to provide a STEM–based high school enrichment program for KleinLife families and neighborhood high school students. This collaborative effort aims to enhance educational opportunities and outcomes for high school students in the Northeast Philadelphia community.

COMETS STEM Program

Location: Penn State New Kensington campus
Grades: 6–8

The Courses on Math, Engineering, Technology and Science (COMETS) Program is a STEM initiative of both education and industry. COMETS is directed at supporting and guiding middle school students as they gain confidence in their abilities in science, math, engineering and technology.

Earth and Mineral Sciences Exposition (EMEX)

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 10–12

The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences annual student-run open house. You can attend information sessions and learn about the many majors that we offer. You will also be able to talk with our professors, staff, and current students.

Empower Conference: Building Connections Through Community

Location: State College, PA
Grades: 9–12

Empower is an annual networking and professional development conference for people working in or interested in STEM fields hosted by the Graduate Women in Science (GWIS). This conference is open to everyone, including high school students, undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, faculty, staff, and other community members.

EnvironMentors

Location: Penn State University Park, Penn State Shenango, Penn State Harrisburg, and Penn State Schuylkill campuses
Grades: 9–12

EnvironMentors is a college access program for underrepresented and underserved high school students across the country, created by the Global Council for Science and the Environment (GCSE). EnvironMentors has the mission to mentor and motivate high school students from underrepresented and underserved communities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). In the Penn State model of EnvironMentors, high school students are paired with a faculty or staff mentors and undergraduate student mentors. Together, they plan and conduct research projects throughout the academic year. This research is culminated into a presentation to be given at the Penn State EnvironMentors research symposium at the end of the academic year.

Envision: STEM Career Day Supporting Young Women

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 6–12

The primary goal of ENVISION: STEM Career Day Supporting Young Women is to help girls and young women see themselves in the STEM fields. However, ENVISION is open to all students who are currently in grades 6 to12. Throughout this experience, ENVISION attendees will hear inspiring speakers, learn from Penn State scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and technology experts, and participate in informal conversations with students and professional scientists. If you want to learn what women in STEM do, what they can accomplish, and how STEM is relevant to your own journey, this is the event for you! This event typically takes place in February each year.

Girl Scout STEM Badge Day

Location: Penn State Behrend campus

Each year, Penn State Behrend invites Girl Scouts to the college for Girl Scout STEM Badge Day, a fun-filled day of activities in science, technology, engineering, and math. The program is offered with Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania, the regional council that serves over 20,000 girl members in partnership with over 10,000 adult members throughout 27 counties.

Girls Who Code

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 6–12

Girls Who Code Club at Penn State is a free coding club for local middle and high school students! During the first several weeks, students will be able to learn introductory coding concepts or expand their current coding skills.

Mark Cuban AI Boot Camp

Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Grades: 9–12

With support from the Readiness Institute at Penn State, the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp is an opportunity for high school students to immerse themselves in artificial intelligence and machine learning. No prior experience with coding is required for participation.

Math Options

Location: Penn State Behrend campus
Grades: 7–8

Math Options was designed to provide information on careers in these fields to students at a time when they are making important academic decisions. Students from schools in Erie, Crawford, Potter, Venango, and Warren counties attend the Math Options program.

Model UN

Location: Penn State Behrend campus
Grades: 9–12

Penn State Behrend hosts an annual High School Model UN Conference each April. High school students can engage in diplomatic role-play and simulate one of the bodies on the United Nations. They discuss real-world events from the perspective of real governments, whose delegations they will represent. They also engage in negotiation and diplomacy.

Pathways to Your Future: Exploring STEAM Careers

Location: Penn State York campus
Grades: 7 and 10

This free program introduces students to professionals from academia, medicine, government agencies, business, and industry for a day of workshops and discussion. It also provides teachers with information to guide students toward career opportunities in STEAM fields. The workshops are held in May.

PULSE: Pre-health program for underrepresented leaders in STEM education

Location: Penn State College of Medicine and virtual
Grades: 9–12

Educational outreach program run by medical students, geared toward high school students interested in biomedical sciences.

Saturday Art School

Location: Penn State University Park campus

Established in 2004, Penn State’s Art Education Program began Saturday Art School for students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Historically, these classes have been taught by advanced art education students in collaboration with art education faculty and graduate teaching assistants and were held in studio classrooms in the Patterson Building, the Visual Arts Building and the Arts Cottage on the University Park campus.

Shark Tank Competition

Location: Penn State Fayette campus

Every year, the Fayette LaunchBox hosts a Shark Tank competition in which entrepreneurs pitch to the community ways their product or service can benefit the local marketplace. Winners are awarded cash prizes they can use to grow their business ventures. This event will only be available to students enrolled at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, as well as local community members and high school students from Fayette and Greene Counties.

Sports Camps

Location: Penn State Beaver campus

Penn State Beaver Athletics Department offers fall and winter sports camps where children will gain and improve technical sports skills and self-confidence from Penn State Beaver’s coaches and athletes.

Swim Lessons

Location: Penn State Harrisburg campus
Ages: 4–14

Swim lessons available during the fall, winter and spring.

Tennis Clinics

Location: Penn State University Park campus

Training clinics offered throughout the academic year.

Upward Bound

Location: your home school, Penn State University Park campus, and other locations

Upward Bound is a federally funded program that helps high-school students gain academic skills and motivation to continue their education beyond high school. From September through May, students participate in individual meetings in their home schools and by attending monthly Saturday programs held at Penn State’s University Park campus and other locations. The following summer, students participate in a six-week residential program from mid-June to the end of July. Educational, cultural, and recreational activities are offered, such as study skills, financial aid, time management, choosing a major, leadership development, and team building.

Wilkes-Barre Launchbox Student Engagement Experiences

Location: Wilkes-Barre Launch Box
Grades: 9–12

Wilkes-Barre LaunchBox Student Engagement Experiences are all about engaging students from our area schools and Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus to explore entrepreneurial opportunities including, but not limited to, teen entrepreneur challenge, dual enrollment, FBLA Leadership & Entrepreneurship Workshop, and more!

Women in Engineering Day

Location: Penn State Behrend campus
Grades: 10–11

Women in Engineering Day introduces students to what an engineer does and what kinds of engineering careers are available and explains how engineers help the world in general. Membership or participation in this program is not limited by sex or gender. This program is open to all applicants who satisfy its academic criteria.

Women in Engineering Program

Location: Penn State University Park campus

The Penn State Women in Engineering (WEP) mission is to recruit students into engineering, retain undergraduate engineers and facilitate academic success, catalyze career development of engineers through advocacy and action, and actively promote an equitable and productive academic environment in the College of Engineering. They offer Girl Scout Saturdays, Middle School “Engineer Your Future,” and other opportunities for interested youth.

Women in Technology Day

Location: Penn State Behrend campus
Grades: 9–12

Women in Technology Day introduces high school students to the different careers available in the fields of technology, focusing specifically on computing. Membership or participation in this program is not limited by sex or gender. This program is open to all applicants who satisfy its academic criteria.

Writing Day

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 9–12

Penn State Writing Day offers a communal meditative writing experience as well as intimate generative writing workshops on screenwriting, writing for musical theatre, academic essays, poetry, and memoir.

Program

4-H Programs

21st Century Kids Program

Location: Penn State Behrend campus
Grades: 7–8

Adopt a Seedling

Location: The Arboretum at Penn State

Celebrate the American Public Gardens Association’s Go Public Gardens Days! by visiting The Arboretum at Penn State to pot and take home a tomato or zinnia seedling. This program occurs in May.

Behrend Business Day

Location: Penn State Behrend campus
Grades: 9–12

College-Bound STEM Academy

Location: Penn State Abington campus
Grades: 9–12

COMETS STEM Program

Location: Penn State New Kensington campus
Grades: 6–8

Earth and Mineral Sciences Exposition (EMEX)

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 10–12

Empower Conference: Building Connections Through Community

Location: State College, PA
Grades: 9–12

EnvironMentors

Location: Penn State University Park, Penn State Shenango, Penn State Harrisburg, and Penn State Schuylkill campuses
Grades: 9–12

Envision: STEM Career Day Supporting Young Women

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 6–12

Girl Scout STEM Badge Day

Location: Penn State Behrend campus

Girls Who Code

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 6–12

Mark Cuban AI Boot Camp

Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Grades: 9–12

Math Options

Location: Penn State Behrend campus
Grades: 7–8

Model UN

Location: Penn State Behrend campus
Grades: 9–12

Pathways to Your Future: Exploring STEAM Careers

Location: Penn State York campus
Grades: 7 and 10

PULSE: Pre-health program for underrepresented leaders in STEM education

Location: Penn State College of Medicine and virtual
Grades: 9–12

Educational outreach program run by medical students, geared toward high school students interested in biomedical sciences.

Saturday Art School

Location: Penn State University Park campus

Shark Tank Competition

Location: Penn State Fayette campus

Sports Camps

Location: Penn State Beaver campus

Swim Lessons

Location: Penn State Harrisburg campus
Ages: 4–14

Swim lessons available during the fall, winter and spring.

Tennis Clinics

Location: Penn State University Park campus

Training clinics offered throughout the academic year.

Upward Bound

Location: your home school, Penn State University Park campus, and other locations

Wilkes-Barre Launchbox Student Engagement Experiences

Location: Wilkes-Barre Launch Box
Grades: 9–12

Women in Engineering Day

Location: Penn State Behrend campus
Grades: 10–11

Women in Engineering Program

Location: Penn State University Park campus

Women in Technology Day

Location: Penn State Behrend campus
Grades: 9–12

Writing Day

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 9–12

Program

Career Studies Program

Location: Penn State Harrisburg campus
Ages: 18–25

Welcome to the Career Studies Program, a U.S. Department of Education–approved Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP) where individuals with intellectual disabilities can obtain a high-quality, individualized post-secondary education that leads to social and professional networks, careers, and a bright future. Career Studies is an inclusive two-year, four-semester program that includes academic and social enrichment, career exploration, and practical work experiences.

Life Education Occupational Studies (LEOS) program

Location: Penn State Lehigh Valley campus

The Life Education Occupational Studies (LEOS) program offered at the Penn State Lehigh Valley campus supports students who have intellectual disabilities and developmental delays while they gain meaningful collegiate experiences. The LEOS program combines individualized coaching sessions, group seminars, and audited academic courses to facilitate self-advocacy and independence for students.

LifeLink PSU

Location: State College, PA
Ages: 18–21

LifeLink PSU provides State College Area School District special education students between the ages of 18 and 21 an opportunity to interact with students of their own age in an environment that is socially and academically conducive to continued growth.

Program

Central PA Brain Bee

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 7–12

An annual contest that educates students about the field of neuroscience.

First Lego League

Location: Penn State Behrend campus
Ages: 9–14

First Lego League provides students with a hands-on, interactive robotics program in a sports-like atmosphere. Teams of up to ten players focus on team building, problem-solving, creativity, and analytical thinking to develop solutions to a problem currently facing the world — the Challenge.

KidWind

Location: Penn State Altoona, Penn State Greater Allegheny, Penn State Hazelton, and Penn State University Park campuses
Grades: 4–12

An engineering design challenge that engages teams of students in wind energy.

Pennsylvania Science Olympiad State Tournament

Location: Penn State Altoona campus
Grades: K–12

Science Olympiad has opportunities for elementary, middle school, and high school students that foster the skills needed in a future STEM career. Teams of 15 students are challenged by 23 STEM-related events that span biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, engineering, and inquiry. Students usually work in pairs building devices for testing at tournaments, studying for core knowledge challenges, and preparing for rigorous hands-on lab experiments.

Poetry Writing Contest

Location: Virtual
Grades: K–12

Share your poetry with WPSU for our first-ever Poetry Writing Contest! We are excited to read poetry from students across Central PA in kindergarten through 12th grade. Select poems will be published on WPSU’s website and the top winning entry from each grade band will be aired on WPSU radio during a special episode of Poetry Moment.

Sea Air and Land Challenge

Location: Various campuses
Grades: 7–12, varies by location

Introduction to engineering for high school students through the use of robotics during a semester-long team challenge.

Program
Career Studies Program Location: Penn State Harrisburg campus Ages: 18–25 Welcome to the Career Studies Program, a U.S. Department of Education–approved Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP) where individuals with intellectual disabilities can obtain a high-quality, individualized post-secondary education that leads to social and professional networks, careers, and a bright future. Career Studies is an inclusive two-year, four-semester program that includes academic and social enrichment, career exploration, and practical work experiences.
Life Education Occupational Studies (LEOS) program Location: Penn State Lehigh Valley campus The Life Education Occupational Studies (LEOS) program offered at the Penn State Lehigh Valley campus supports students who have intellectual disabilities and developmental delays while they gain meaningful collegiate experiences. The LEOS program combines individualized coaching sessions, group seminars, and audited academic courses to facilitate self-advocacy and independence for students.
LifeLink PSU Location: State College, PA Ages: 18–21 LifeLink PSU provides State College Area School District special education students between the ages of 18 and 21 an opportunity to interact with students of their own age in an environment that is socially and academically conducive to continued growth.

Program
Central PA Brain Bee Location: Penn State University Park campus Grades: 7–12 An annual contest that educates students about the field of neuroscience.
First Lego League Location: Penn State Behrend campus Ages: 9–14 First Lego League provides students with a hands-on, interactive robotics program in a sports-like atmosphere. Teams of up to ten players focus on team building, problem-solving, creativity, and analytical thinking to develop solutions to a problem currently facing the world — the Challenge.
KidWind Location: Penn State Altoona, Penn State Greater Allegheny, Penn State Hazelton, and Penn State University Park campuses Grades: 4–12 An engineering design challenge that engages teams of students in wind energy.
Pennsylvania Science Olympiad State Tournament Location: Penn State Altoona campus Grades: K–12 Science Olympiad has opportunities for elementary, middle school, and high school students that foster the skills needed in a future STEM career. Teams of 15 students are challenged by 23 STEM-related events that span biology, earth science, chemistry, physics, engineering, and inquiry. Students usually work in pairs building devices for testing at tournaments, studying for core knowledge challenges, and preparing for rigorous hands-on lab experiments.
Poetry Writing Contest Location: Virtual Grades: K–12 Share your poetry with WPSU for our first-ever Poetry Writing Contest! We are excited to read poetry from students across Central PA in kindergarten through 12th grade. Select poems will be published on WPSU’s website and the top winning entry from each grade band will be aired on WPSU radio during a special episode of Poetry Moment.
Sea Air and Land Challenge Location: Various campuses Grades: 7–12, varies by location Introduction to engineering for high school students through the use of robotics during a semester-long team challenge.

Program
College of Medicine Research Internships and Observations Location: Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA Grades: 9–12 Opportunities for short-term (one- to two-day) research shadowing or an extended (weeks or months) internship available for high school students with the College of Medicine.
Dual Credit Enrollment at Penn State The Dual Enrollment program allows students to earn college credits while still in high school. Details and course offerings vary by campus. Locations: Penn State Abington Penn State Altoona Penn State Beaver Penn State Behrend Penn State Berks Penn State Dubois Penn State Fayette Penn State Greater Allegheny Penn State Lehigh Valley Penn State Mont Alto Penn State New Kensington Penn State Schuylkill Penn State Scranton Penn State Shenango Penn State University Park Penn State Wilkes-Barre Penn State York Grades: 11–12
Emerging Health Professionals Program for Lehigh County Residents Location: Penn State Lehigh Valley/Lehigh Valley Health Network Grade: 12 The partnership of Lehigh Career & Technical Institute (LCTI), Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), Penn State Lehigh Valley (PSULV), and Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) is pleased to offer this pioneering dual-enrollment program that combines interactive, college-level classroom learning and observation in a health care setting. High school juniors who attend participating Lehigh County school districts are eligible to apply.
Emerging Health Professionals Program for Schuylkill County Residents Location: Penn State Schuylkill Campus/Lehigh Valley Health Network Grade: 12 Emerging Health Professionals is an innovative half-day dual enrollment program that combines skills-based, interactive, and university-level classroom learning with job shadowing in a health care setting. The program is a partnership among Penn State Schuylkill, the Schuylkill Technology Center (STC), Geisinger St. Luke’s, Lehigh Valley Health Network, and St. Luke’s Miners Campus and is open to Schuylkill County high school students entering their senior year.
Environmental Programs for High School Students Location: Penn State Scranton campus and virtual Grades: 11–12 High school juniors and seniors, sign up and earn credit with one of our free environmental science programs.
Family Pathways Program Family Pathways provides family literacy services to caregivers and children in Lycoming and Centre counties. Services include instruction in reading, writing, math, and technology skills; preparation for the PA Commonwealth Secondary Diploma–GED® or HiSET®; career exploration and employability workshops; preparation for post-secondary classes; parent education classes; and educational activities.
Inspired Nursing Program Location: Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Age: at least 16 years of age “Inspired Nursing” is a program for any high school student, college student, or other individual not currently in a health care–related program of study who is interested in exploring a professional career in nursing.
Lifeguard Certification Location: Penn State Hazleton campus Age: at least 15 years of age when you complete the last scheduled class session Penn State Hazleton’s lifeguard certification courses provide entry-level lifeguards with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize, and respond to aquatic emergencies. Clinics will be held for participants to become certified and for certified lifeguards to update their credentials.
Pennsylvania College of Technology Dual Enrollment Programs Location: Partner Schools Grades: 9–12 Thanks to Penn College Dual Enrollment, qualified high school students can dive into college-level classes, earn credits, and embark on the path to a thriving career.
Pennsylvania College of Technology Pre-Apprenticeship Programs Grades: 9–12 The Penn College Pre-apprenticeship model provides an overview of the foundational technical knowledge and skills in an industry sector. The pre-apprenticeship is intended for individuals who are exploring a career path prior to entering employment or training.
SAT Prep Courses These courses help students learn effective strategies for success on the SAT, including focus on Reading, Math, and English modules. Locations: Penn State Abington (virtual) Penn State Beaver Penn State Berks (virtual) Penn State DuBois Penn State Fayette Penn State Hazleton (virtual) Penn State Lehigh Valley Penn State New Kensington Penn State Schuylkill Penn State Scranton Penn State Wilkes-Barre (virtual) Penn State York (virtual)

Program

College of Medicine Research Internships and Observations

Location: Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
Grades: 9–12

Opportunities for short-term (one- to two-day) research shadowing or an extended (weeks or months) internship available for high school students with the College of Medicine.

Dual Credit Enrollment at Penn State

The Dual Enrollment program allows students to earn college credits while still in high school. Details and course offerings vary by campus.

Locations:

Grades: 11–12

Emerging Health Professionals Program for Lehigh County Residents

Location: Penn State Lehigh Valley/Lehigh Valley Health Network
Grade: 12

The partnership of Lehigh Career & Technical Institute (LCTI), Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), Penn State Lehigh Valley (PSULV), and Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) is pleased to offer this pioneering dual-enrollment program that combines interactive, college-level classroom learning and observation in a health care setting. High school juniors who attend participating Lehigh County school districts are eligible to apply.

Emerging Health Professionals Program for Schuylkill County Residents

Location: Penn State Schuylkill Campus/Lehigh Valley Health Network
Grade: 12

Emerging Health Professionals is an innovative half-day dual enrollment program that combines skills-based, interactive, and university-level classroom learning with job shadowing in a health care setting. The program is a partnership among Penn State Schuylkill, the Schuylkill Technology Center (STC), Geisinger St. Luke’s, Lehigh Valley Health Network, and St. Luke’s Miners Campus and is open to Schuylkill County high school students entering their senior year.

Environmental Programs for High School Students

Location: Penn State Scranton campus and virtual
Grades: 11–12

High school juniors and seniors, sign up and earn credit with one of our free environmental science programs.

Family Pathways Program

Family Pathways provides family literacy services to caregivers and children in Lycoming and Centre counties. Services include instruction in reading, writing, math, and technology skills; preparation for the PA Commonwealth Secondary Diploma–GED® or HiSET®; career exploration and employability workshops; preparation for post-secondary classes; parent education classes; and educational activities.

Inspired Nursing Program

Location: Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Age: at least 16 years of age

“Inspired Nursing” is a program for any high school student, college student, or other individual not currently in a health care–related program of study who is interested in exploring a professional career in nursing.

Lifeguard Certification

Location: Penn State Hazleton campus
Age: at least 15 years of age when you complete the last scheduled class session

Penn State Hazleton’s lifeguard certification courses provide entry-level lifeguards with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize, and respond to aquatic emergencies. Clinics will be held for participants to become certified and for certified lifeguards to update their credentials.

Pennsylvania College of Technology Dual Enrollment Programs

Location: Partner Schools
Grades: 9–12

Thanks to Penn College Dual Enrollment, qualified high school students can dive into college-level classes, earn credits, and embark on the path to a thriving career.

Pennsylvania College of Technology Pre-Apprenticeship Programs

Grades: 9–12

The Penn College Pre-apprenticeship model provides an overview of the foundational technical knowledge and skills in an industry sector. The pre-apprenticeship is intended for individuals who are exploring a career path prior to entering employment or training.

SAT Prep Courses

These courses help students learn effective strategies for success on the SAT, including focus on Reading, Math, and English modules.

Locations:

Program

College of Medicine Research Internships and Observations

Location: Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
Grades: 9–12

Opportunities for short-term (one- to two-day) research shadowing or an extended (weeks or months) internship available for high school students with the College of Medicine.

Dual Credit Enrollment at Penn State

The Dual Enrollment program allows students to earn college credits while still in high school. Details and course offerings vary by campus.

Locations:

Grades: 11–12

Emerging Health Professionals Program for Lehigh County Residents

Location: Penn State Lehigh Valley/Lehigh Valley Health Network
Grade: 12

Emerging Health Professionals Program for Schuylkill County Residents

Location: Penn State Schuylkill Campus/Lehigh Valley Health Network
Grade: 12

Environmental Programs for High School Students

Location: Penn State Scranton campus and virtual
Grades: 11–12

High school juniors and seniors, sign up and earn credit with one of our free environmental science programs.

Family Pathways Program

Inspired Nursing Program

Location: Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Age: at least 16 years of age

Lifeguard Certification

Location: Penn State Hazleton campus
Age: at least 15 years of age when you complete the last scheduled class session

Pennsylvania College of Technology Dual Enrollment Programs

Location: Partner Schools
Grades: 9–12

Thanks to Penn College Dual Enrollment, qualified high school students can dive into college-level classes, earn credits, and embark on the path to a thriving career.

Pennsylvania College of Technology Pre-Apprenticeship Programs

Grades: 9–12

SAT Prep Courses

These courses help students learn effective strategies for success on the SAT, including focus on Reading, Math, and English modules.

Locations:

A highlight list of some of the family friendly public events offered at Penn State.

Program
Ag Progress Days Location: Pennsylvania Furnace, PA Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, held annually during three days in August, is Pennsylvania’s largest outdoor agricultural exposition. With over 400 exhibitors from the United States and Canada, there is something for everyone to enjoy at no cost as parking and admission are free. The show is hosted by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and showcases educational programs, current research, and the latest innovations in agricultural equipment and technology.
AstroFest Location: Penn State University Park campus Since 1999, Penn State Astronomy students, faculty, and friends have been inviting the public to Davey Lab at the Penn State University Park campus for AstroFest, a four-night festival of Astronomy held concurrently with the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. AstroFest features many exciting activities, talks, and presentations, including stargazing through the telescopes on the roof of Davey Lab. This event is free and open to the public.
Eventapalooza Location: WPSU Studios Ages: 3–10 An annual WPSU community event that provides families and children with hands-on activities, interaction with PBS characters, special exhibitions, and much more.
Haunted-U Location: Penn State University Park campus The Eberly College of Science puts on a great science Halloween event filled with demonstrations, activities, and amazing presenters. This occurs in the fall annually.
Insect Fair Location: Penn State University Park campus The Great Insect Fair is our annual extravaganza celebrating insects with lots of activities, games, crafts, tasty treats, and fun for everyone!
Maple Harvest Festival Location: Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center We welcome you to celebrate the first harvest of the new year with Shaver’s Creek! Since 1984, we have hosted our Maple Harvest Festival and Pancake Breakfast to help people learn about the maple sugaring process — both in colonial times and the present day.
Multicultural Children’s Festival Location: WPSU Studios Families are invited to engage with activities from all over the world at WPSU’s Multicultural Children’s Festival! This free event is held at WPSU Studios and will have hands-on engagement from a variety of community organizations, performances, and more!
STEAM Fair at Penn State Behrend Location: Penn State Behrend campus This fair promotes STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) careers using hands-on interactive displays and activities. Last year around 1,500 people attended. This is a free event, and all ages are welcome!

Program

Ag Progress Days

Location: Pennsylvania Furnace, PA

Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, held annually during three days in August, is Pennsylvania’s largest outdoor agricultural exposition. With over 400 exhibitors from the United States and Canada, there is something for everyone to enjoy at no cost as parking and admission are free. The show is hosted by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences and showcases educational programs, current research, and the latest innovations in agricultural equipment and technology.

AstroFest

Location: Penn State University Park campus

Since 1999, Penn State Astronomy students, faculty, and friends have been inviting the public to Davey Lab at the Penn State University Park campus for AstroFest, a four-night festival of Astronomy held concurrently with the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. AstroFest features many exciting activities, talks, and presentations, including stargazing through the telescopes on the roof of Davey Lab. This event is free and open to the public.

Eventapalooza

Location: WPSU Studios
Ages: 3–10

An annual WPSU community event that provides families and children with hands-on activities, interaction with PBS characters, special exhibitions, and much more.

Haunted-U

Location: Penn State University Park campus

The Eberly College of Science puts on a great science Halloween event filled with demonstrations, activities, and amazing presenters. This occurs in the fall annually.

Insect Fair

Location: Penn State University Park campus

The Great Insect Fair is our annual extravaganza celebrating insects with lots of activities, games, crafts, tasty treats, and fun for everyone!

Maple Harvest Festival

Location: Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center

We welcome you to celebrate the first harvest of the new year with Shaver’s Creek! Since 1984, we have hosted our Maple Harvest Festival and Pancake Breakfast to help people learn about the maple sugaring process — both in colonial times and the present day.

Multicultural Children’s Festival

Location: WPSU Studios

Families are invited to engage with activities from all over the world at WPSU’s Multicultural Children’s Festival! This free event is held at WPSU Studios and will have hands-on engagement from a variety of community organizations, performances, and more!

STEAM Fair at Penn State Behrend

Location: Penn State Behrend campus

This fair promotes STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) careers using hands-on interactive displays and activities. Last year around 1,500 people attended. This is a free event, and all ages are welcome!

A highlight list of some of the family friendly public events offered at Penn State.

Program

Ag Progress Days

Location: Pennsylvania Furnace, PA

AstroFest

Location: Penn State University Park campus

Eventapalooza

Location: WPSU Studios
Ages: 3–10

An annual WPSU community event that provides families and children with hands-on activities, interaction with PBS characters, special exhibitions, and much more.

Haunted-U

Location: Penn State University Park campus

The Eberly College of Science puts on a great science Halloween event filled with demonstrations, activities, and amazing presenters. This occurs in the fall annually.

Insect Fair

Location: Penn State University Park campus

The Great Insect Fair is our annual extravaganza celebrating insects with lots of activities, games, crafts, tasty treats, and fun for everyone!

Maple Harvest Festival

Location: Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center

Multicultural Children’s Festival

Location: WPSU Studios

STEAM Fair at Penn State Behrend

Location: Penn State Behrend campus

Program
4-H Programs There’s no better place than 4-H for building the foundation of success. We are a community of encouraging adults and welcoming kids who love to roll up our sleeves and learn by doing. We work, serve, and have fun together through all kinds of projects. We participate in events and activities through clubs, in school-based and after-school programs, and as individual members.
Academic/STEAM Camps Location: Penn State Beaver campus Every summer, Penn State Beaver offers a variety of children’s academic enrichment camps.
Anything is Possible for Girls in Electrical Engineering (APOGEE) Summer Camp Location: Penn State University Park campus Grades: 7–12 This five-day camp, tailored for girls, will give campers an opportunity to experience and explore the exciting world behind our modern, technological society. They will learn about the electronics and signals that surround us every day, get the chance to interact and work with female electrical engineers and students, and be introduced to the hands-on, (DIY) culture.
Arboretum Summer Drop-In Programs Location: Penn State University Park campus The Arboretum at Penn State offers free events that do not require registration for children and families. Youth are required to attend programming with a parent, guardian, teacher, or chaperone. Programs will be offered most weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to noon in the Arboretum’s botanic gardens. Topics will center around central Pennsylvania’s history, geology, plants, and animals.
Architecture and Landscape Architecture Camp Location: Penn State University Park campus Grades: 7–11 An immersive summer camp for high school students to experience professional design programs in architecture and landscape architecture.
Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS) Location: Penn State University Park campus Grade: 12 BOSS is a two-week residential program, held on Penn State’s University Park campus, for rising seniors who are residents of the U.S. and Puerto Rico and who are interested in pursuing a business education in college. It’s an opportunity for these students to take college-prep and business fundamentals courses taught by Penn State faculty.
Camp Candle Location: Penn State University Park campus Grades: 9–12 Explore lighting design in this week-long overnight summer camp. You’ll get hands-on with artistic and technical aspects of architectural lighting and electrical design. Students will learn how architectural lighting can enhance the built environment, improve our well-being, and contribute to a sustainable future.
College for Kids Summer Enrichment Program Location: Penn State Behrend campus Ages: 6–14 College for Kids is a summer enrichment program that offers a diverse selection of one-week, age-appropriate classes for children and teenagers.
Communications Camps Location: Penn State University Park campus Grades: 9–12 Three over-night weeklong camps are offered: Broadcast Journalism Camp: Students will work in the same newsroom and studio used by award-winning Penn State students as they learn about TV news and sports productions. It’s an opportunity to explore essential broadcast journalism skills, news-gathering techniques, storytelling, and more. Film Camp: This camp offers you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in film and video production. During the week on campus, campers will plan, shoot, and screen three separate projects. Social Media and Content Creator Camp: This camp features the dual focus of using social media to build a personal creator presence online and further a new business.
Creating Virtual Worlds in Minecraft Location: Penn State University Park campus Grades: 7–9 In this camp, campers will create and design virtual worlds inside Minecraft. They will gain hands-on experience in programming the virtual world and giving objects a simple AI so that the objects can automatically move and interact with the virtual world. Through the experience, campers will learn basic concepts of computational thinking, programming, and AI. This five-day, in-person camp is tailored for girls but is open to participants of all identities and does not require any prior knowledge of programming or Minecraft.
Health and Human Development (HHD) Youth Camps Location: Penn State University Park campus Grades: 4–12 A variety of camps offered by the College of Health and Human Development on the topics of DNA, cooking, kinesiology, and more.
Introduction to Smart Materials and Devices Location: Virtual Grades: 6–12 Virtual summer camp for middle and high school students. Free to attendees. Live presentations from researchers at Penn State. Project kits will be mailed to participating students to be completed after the virtual event. Valuable interactions, demonstrations, and discussions between the students, graduate students, and researchers.
Kids & Teen College Summer Camps Location: Penn State Abington campus Grades: 3–12 Penn State Abington Kids & Teen College is a fun-filled approach to academic learning during the summer months.
Kids’ College Summer Camp Location: Penn State Altoona campus Youth programs are offered for a variety of interests in academics, arts, and athletics.
Language Institute at Penn State Location: Penn State University Park campus Grades: 9–12 Credit courses in a variety of languages that foster speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills as well as exposure to, and the understanding of, the cultures associated with the languages studied. Typically offered June through August.
LEADS: An Early College Experience Program Location: Penn State Behrend campus Grade: 12 LEADS (Learn, Explore, Advance, Discover, and Succeed) is a free, nonresidential summer program that gives students entering their senior year of high school the experience of taking a college-credit course.
Med Camp Location: Penn State Mont Alto campus Grades: 9–10 Join us for a week of exploration and hands-on activities including suturing, phlebotomy, nursing diagnostics, and operating room simulation. This popular camp, the only one of its kind in the region, gives youths a real-world glimpse into the world of health care. Campers will learn about careers in nursing, oncology, cardiology, radiology, emergency medicine, surgery, dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, veterinary medicine, and more!
My Tomorrow Location: Pennsylvania College of Technology Grades: 6–8 Middle school is the perfect time to start thinking about a career pathway. Explore a variety of career possibilities through interactive activities, faculty-led sessions, and hands-on experiences. My Tomorrow is designed to give middle-schoolers an opportunity to explore a number of careers such as engineering, business, arts, and health sciences, as well as give them a head start in designing a career pathway.
Nittany Cub Summer Camps Location: Penn State Scranton campus Penn State Scranton has a wide variety of fun-filled summer camps for youth and teens to attend during the summer months. Youth campers explore interests while engaging in projects, crafts and events that provide subtle education in science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
PA School for Excellence in the Agricultural Sciences Location: Penn State University Park campus Grade: 12 A free four‐week residential program for academically talented and gifted high school rising seniors (apply as juniors, applications open now) from throughout Pennsylvania. The program provides opportunities to increase knowledge of food, food insecurity, agriculture, and the sustainable use of renewable natural resources and helps students become aware how the path of agricultural sciences can provide an array of interesting and rewarding careers.
Readiness Institute Summer Program Location: Penn State Center Pittsburgh and central Pennsylvania Grade: 12 A six-week paid experience to help rising high school seniors become community and future ready through skill workshops, networking, and more.
Science-U Summer Camps Location: Penn State University Park campus Grades: 2–8 Each of our Science-U camps is designed to take campers through a one-week journey that investigates an area of STEM in a fascinating and meaningful way. Guided by our passionate staff, Science-U campers are encouraged to ask questions, think critically, and explore all the ways that science can captivate them and make a difference in their lives. Our sincere hope is that every camper comes out of their Science-U experience inspired to stay curious and keep learning!
Shaver’s Creek Summer Camps Location: Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center Ages: 4–14 At Shaver’s Creek, we’ve been inspiring discovery since 1976! We do this through week-long summer camp experiences that take place in nature to develop and deepen connections between youth and the environment.
Sports Camps Location: Penn State Behrend Campus
Sports Camps Location: Penn State Harrisburg campus
Sports Camps Location: Penn State Scranton campus Grades: 6–12 Penn State Scranton is hosting a number of sports camps for middle school and high school boys and girls this summer. Boys and girls who are serious about continuing to play their sport at the next level, should check out these camps. Penn State Scranton coaching staff and varsity athletes provide individual instruction focused on skill development, college level drills, and one-on-one interaction.
Sport Camps Location: Penn State University Park campus Penn State Athletics offers a variety of camps and clinics for youth and school teams during the summer.
Sports Camps and Clinics Location: Penn State Mont Alto campus
STATE! (School of Theatre Artistry and Technical Education) Musical Theatre Summer Program Location: Penn State University Park campus Grades: 11–12 State! Musical Theatre Program gives focused and talented young artists a two-week immersion in collegiate musical theatre training at Penn State. Students will get a sample of the rigors of artistic training as well as an idea of the unique components of integrated training that are the hallmark of Penn State Musical Theatre. Practical classes and advice in navigating the college audition process as well as the professional musical theatre industry will also be included.
STATE ON STAGE! Acting Summer Program Location: Penn State University Park campus Grades: 11–12 STATE ON STAGE gives young artists a two-week immersion in collegiate acting training at Penn State. Students will get a sample of the rigors of artistic training as well as an idea of the unique components of integrated training. Practical classes and advice in navigating the college audition process as well as the professional industry will also be included.
STEM Camps Location: Digital Foundry at New Kensington Grades: 7–12 This free program provides bridges from classroom learning to the real world through hands-on educational experiences, connections to industry careers, and exposure to future opportunities for students.
STEM Programs Location: Penn State New Kensington campus Grades: 1–12 Penn State New Kensington offers a variety of STEM programs that introduce students to careers in Science, Technology , Engineering and Math fields. These programs also provide opportunities for students to interact with professionals in STEM fields, learn about real-world problems, and discuss possible solutions.
Summer Camps Location: Penn State Berks campus Grades: 5–12 Penn State Berks has a variety of youth programs for every interest. The summer camps at Penn State Berks offer students a fun-filled approach to academic learning during the summer months through camps designed for middle and high school students. Camp programming is offered at the Berks campus located in Reading, PA.
Summer Camps Location: Penn State Fayette campus Grades: 1–12 Our summer youth programs offer a wide variety of fun-filled, academic learning for youth and teens. Our instructors are highly qualified, experienced professionals, who provide a fun, safe, and educational experience through innovative learning, experiments, hands-on activities, and games, with some adventure along the way!
Summer Camps Location: Pennsylvania College of Technology Grades: 9–12 Overnight Pre-College Summer Programs are the perfect way for high school students to explore career possibilities. You’ll get the full hands-on lab experience plus a $1,000 annual scholarship if you decide to attend Penn College. Better yet, come for two Pre-College Summer Programs and you can earn $2,000 in annual scholarships.
Summer Music Institute Location: Penn State University Park campus Grades: 9–12 The goal of the Summer Music Institute is to immerse talented and creative young musicians in music-making at Penn State. Students will engage in comprehensive study of their instrument and get a sample of an intensive collegiate music-making experience. Practical classes, rehearsals, and performances will be included.
Summer Sports Camps Location: Penn State Beaver campus Penn State Beaver Athletics Department has helped thousands of young athletes learn about teamwork, competition, and fitness while improving their technical skills and gaining self-confidence in their chosen sports. The camps are run by the coaches and athletes of our championship-winning athletics teams, who will give young athletes the personalized attention they need to succeed.
Summer Youth Camps Location: Penn State Hazleton campus Penn State Hazleton summer youth programs offer students a fun-filled approach to academic camps during the summer months.
Summer Youth Day Camps Location: Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus Grades: 1–12 Our summer youth camps provide challenging, educational activities for students of various grade levels. We are devoted to sparking an interest in science, technology, the arts, and healthy sports training. Our unique approach emphasizes creative learning and adventure through projects, field trips, experiments, game-play, and numerous hands-on activities.
Teen Entrepreneurship Challenge Location: Hazleton LaunchBox Grades: 9–12 A six-week program designed to teach teenagers the skills and mindset needed to transform ideas into action. Participants will explore their passions and identify problems in the community, discover personal strengths and limitations, develop business ideas, and learn how to articulate and act on them. The challenge concludes with a pitch competition, where students present their ideas to a panel of judges for a chance at $1,500 in prizes.
Teen Entrepreneurship Challenge Camp Location: Perkiomen School, Pennsburg, PA Grades: 9–12 The Teen Entrepreneurship Challenge, sponsored by Penn State Lehigh Valley, is an exciting one-week residential summer camp for rising high school students that encourages innovative thinking and teaches business skills that last a lifetime. Students will identify problems that need solving, learn to think strategically, design business solutions, present a business pitch, and gain resources to support entrepreneurship.
Tennis Camps Location: Penn State University Park campus Tennis camps offered for various ages and skill levels.
Upward Bound Location: Penn State Behrend campus Grades: 9–12 Upward Bound is a six-week residential, co-ed summer program for high school students held at Penn State Behrend. Programming includes prep courses in math, science, and English. Students can take dual-enrollment classes if they qualify. Participants also are introduced to a world language and theatre.
Weather Camps Location: Penn State University Park campus Grades: 8–12 Campers gain hands-on experience in many aspects of meteorology, including weather analysis and forecasting, and prizes are awarded for the best work. Campers come from across the country and generally have a keen interest in the weather. While here, they visit the National Weather Service, the Mid-Atlantic River Forecast Center, and AccuWeather. They spend much of their time at Penn State’s Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, but there is free time when activities generally include bonding with new-found friends while attending a baseball game, visiting the Arboretum at Penn State, or going bowling.
WISE (Women in Sciences and Engineering) Camp Location: Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus Grades: 6–8 Summer program that encourages the entry and success of women in STEM fields and promotes institutional and cultural change.

Program

4-H Programs

Academic/STEAM Camps

Location: Penn State Beaver campus

Every summer, Penn State Beaver offers a variety of children’s academic enrichment camps.

Anything is Possible for Girls in Electrical Engineering (APOGEE) Summer Camp

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 7–12

This five-day camp, tailored for girls, will give campers an opportunity to experience and explore the exciting world behind our modern, technological society. They will learn about the electronics and signals that surround us every day, get the chance to interact and work with female electrical engineers and students, and be introduced to the hands-on, (DIY) culture.

Arboretum Summer Drop-In Programs

Location: Penn State University Park campus

The Arboretum at Penn State offers free events that do not require registration for children and families. Youth are required to attend programming with a parent, guardian, teacher, or chaperone. Programs will be offered most weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to noon in the Arboretum’s botanic gardens. Topics will center around central Pennsylvania’s history, geology, plants, and animals.

Architecture and Landscape Architecture Camp

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 7–11

An immersive summer camp for high school students to experience professional design programs in architecture and landscape architecture.

Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS)

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grade: 12

BOSS is a two-week residential program, held on Penn State’s University Park campus, for rising seniors who are residents of the U.S. and Puerto Rico and who are interested in pursuing a business education in college. It’s an opportunity for these students to take college-prep and business fundamentals courses taught by Penn State faculty.

Camp Candle

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 9–12

Explore lighting design in this week-long overnight summer camp. You’ll get hands-on with artistic and technical aspects of architectural lighting and electrical design. Students will learn how architectural lighting can enhance the built environment, improve our well-being, and contribute to a sustainable future.

College for Kids Summer Enrichment Program

Location: Penn State Behrend campus
Ages: 6–14

College for Kids is a summer enrichment program that offers a diverse selection of one-week, age-appropriate classes for children and teenagers.

Communications Camps

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 9–12

Three over-night weeklong camps are offered:

Broadcast Journalism Camp: Students will work in the same newsroom and studio used by award-winning Penn State students as they learn about TV news and sports productions. It’s an opportunity to explore essential broadcast journalism skills, news-gathering techniques, storytelling, and more.
Film Camp: This camp offers you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in film and video production. During the week on campus, campers will plan, shoot, and screen three separate projects.
Social Media and Content Creator Camp: This camp features the dual focus of using social media to build a personal creator presence online and further a new business.

Creating Virtual Worlds in Minecraft

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 7–9

In this camp, campers will create and design virtual worlds inside Minecraft. They will gain hands-on experience in programming the virtual world and giving objects a simple AI so that the objects can automatically move and interact with the virtual world. Through the experience, campers will learn basic concepts of computational thinking, programming, and AI. This five-day, in-person camp is tailored for girls but is open to participants of all identities and does not require any prior knowledge of programming or Minecraft.

Health and Human Development (HHD) Youth Camps

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 4–12

A variety of camps offered by the College of Health and Human Development on the topics of DNA, cooking, kinesiology, and more.

Introduction to Smart Materials and Devices

Location: Virtual
Grades: 6–12

Virtual summer camp for middle and high school students. Free to attendees. Live presentations from researchers at Penn State. Project kits will be mailed to participating students to be completed after the virtual event. Valuable interactions, demonstrations, and discussions between the students, graduate students, and researchers.

Kids & Teen College Summer Camps

Location: Penn State Abington campus
Grades: 3–12

Penn State Abington Kids & Teen College is a fun-filled approach to academic learning during the summer months.

Kids’ College Summer Camp

Location: Penn State Altoona campus

Youth programs are offered for a variety of interests in academics, arts, and athletics.

Language Institute at Penn State

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 9–12

Credit courses in a variety of languages that foster speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills as well as exposure to, and the understanding of, the cultures associated with the languages studied. Typically offered June through August.

LEADS: An Early College Experience Program

Location: Penn State Behrend campus
Grade: 12

LEADS (Learn, Explore, Advance, Discover, and Succeed) is a free, nonresidential summer program that gives students entering their senior year of high school the experience of taking a college-credit course.

Med Camp

Location: Penn State Mont Alto campus
Grades: 9–10

Join us for a week of exploration and hands-on activities including suturing, phlebotomy, nursing diagnostics, and operating room simulation. This popular camp, the only one of its kind in the region, gives youths a real-world glimpse into the world of health care. Campers will learn about careers in nursing, oncology, cardiology, radiology, emergency medicine, surgery, dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, veterinary medicine, and more!

My Tomorrow

Location: Pennsylvania College of Technology
Grades: 6–8

Middle school is the perfect time to start thinking about a career pathway. Explore a variety of career possibilities through interactive activities, faculty-led sessions, and hands-on experiences. My Tomorrow is designed to give middle-schoolers an opportunity to explore a number of careers such as engineering, business, arts, and health sciences, as well as give them a head start in designing a career pathway.

Nittany Cub Summer Camps

Location: Penn State Scranton campus

Penn State Scranton has a wide variety of fun-filled summer camps for youth and teens to attend during the summer months. Youth campers explore interests while engaging in projects, crafts and events that provide subtle education in science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

PA School for Excellence in the Agricultural Sciences

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grade: 12

A free four‐week residential program for academically talented and gifted high school rising seniors (apply as juniors, applications open now) from throughout Pennsylvania. The program provides opportunities to increase knowledge of food, food insecurity, agriculture, and the sustainable use of renewable natural resources and helps students become aware how the path of agricultural sciences can provide an array of interesting and rewarding careers.

Readiness Institute Summer Program

Location: Penn State Center Pittsburgh and central Pennsylvania
Grade: 12

A six-week paid experience to help rising high school seniors become community and future ready through skill workshops, networking, and more.

Science-U Summer Camps

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 2–8

Each of our Science-U camps is designed to take campers through a one-week journey that investigates an area of STEM in a fascinating and meaningful way. Guided by our passionate staff, Science-U campers are encouraged to ask questions, think critically, and explore all the ways that science can captivate them and make a difference in their lives. Our sincere hope is that every camper comes out of their Science-U experience inspired to stay curious and keep learning!

Shaver’s Creek Summer Camps

Location: Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center
Ages: 4–14

At Shaver’s Creek, we’ve been inspiring discovery since 1976! We do this through week-long summer camp experiences that take place in nature to develop and deepen connections between youth and the environment.

Sports Camps

Location: Penn State Behrend Campus

Sports Camps

Location: Penn State Harrisburg campus

Sports Camps

Location: Penn State Scranton campus
Grades: 6–12

Penn State Scranton is hosting a number of sports camps for middle school and high school boys and girls this summer. Boys and girls who are serious about continuing to play their sport at the next level, should check out these camps. Penn State Scranton coaching staff and varsity athletes provide individual instruction focused on skill development, college level drills, and one-on-one interaction.

Sport Camps

Location: Penn State University Park campus

Penn State Athletics offers a variety of camps and clinics for youth and school teams during the summer.

Sports Camps and Clinics

Location: Penn State Mont Alto campus

STATE! (School of Theatre Artistry and Technical Education) Musical Theatre Summer Program

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 11–12

State! Musical Theatre Program gives focused and talented young artists a two-week immersion in collegiate musical theatre training at Penn State. Students will get a sample of the rigors of artistic training as well as an idea of the unique components of integrated training that are the hallmark of Penn State Musical Theatre. Practical classes and advice in navigating the college audition process as well as the professional musical theatre industry will also be included.

STATE ON STAGE! Acting Summer Program

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 11–12

STATE ON STAGE gives young artists a two-week immersion in collegiate acting training at Penn State. Students will get a sample of the rigors of artistic training as well as an idea of the unique components of integrated training. Practical classes and advice in navigating the college audition process as well as the professional industry will also be included.

STEM Camps

Location: Digital Foundry at New Kensington
Grades: 7–12

This free program provides bridges from classroom learning to the real world through hands-on educational experiences, connections to industry careers, and exposure to future opportunities for students.

STEM Programs

Location: Penn State New Kensington campus
Grades: 1–12

Penn State New Kensington offers a variety of STEM programs that introduce students to careers in Science, Technology , Engineering and Math fields. These programs also provide opportunities for students to interact with professionals in STEM fields, learn about real-world problems, and discuss possible solutions.

Summer Camps

Location: Penn State Berks campus
Grades: 5–12

Penn State Berks has a variety of youth programs for every interest. The summer camps at Penn State Berks offer students a fun-filled approach to academic learning during the summer months through camps designed for middle and high school students. Camp programming is offered at the Berks campus located in Reading, PA.

Summer Camps

Location: Penn State Fayette campus
Grades: 1–12

Our summer youth programs offer a wide variety of fun-filled, academic learning for youth and teens. Our instructors are highly qualified, experienced professionals, who provide a fun, safe, and educational experience through innovative learning, experiments, hands-on activities, and games, with some adventure along the way!

Summer Camps

Location: Pennsylvania College of Technology
Grades: 9–12

Overnight Pre-College Summer Programs are the perfect way for high school students to explore career possibilities. You’ll get the full hands-on lab experience plus a $1,000 annual scholarship if you decide to attend Penn College. Better yet, come for two Pre-College Summer Programs and you can earn $2,000 in annual scholarships.

Summer Music Institute

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 9–12

The goal of the Summer Music Institute is to immerse talented and creative young musicians in music-making at Penn State. Students will engage in comprehensive study of their instrument and get a sample of an intensive collegiate music-making experience. Practical classes, rehearsals, and performances will be included.

Summer Sports Camps

Location: Penn State Beaver campus

Penn State Beaver Athletics Department has helped thousands of young athletes learn about teamwork, competition, and fitness while improving their technical skills and gaining self-confidence in their chosen sports. The camps are run by the coaches and athletes of our championship-winning athletics teams, who will give young athletes the personalized attention they need to succeed.

Summer Youth Camps

Location: Penn State Hazleton campus

Penn State Hazleton summer youth programs offer students a fun-filled approach to academic camps during the summer months.

Summer Youth Day Camps

Location: Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus
Grades: 1–12

Our summer youth camps provide challenging, educational activities for students of various grade levels. We are devoted to sparking an interest in science, technology, the arts, and healthy sports training. Our unique approach emphasizes creative learning and adventure through projects, field trips, experiments, game-play, and numerous hands-on activities.

Teen Entrepreneurship Challenge

Location: Hazleton LaunchBox
Grades: 9–12

A six-week program designed to teach teenagers the skills and mindset needed to transform ideas into action. Participants will explore their passions and identify problems in the community, discover personal strengths and limitations, develop business ideas, and learn how to articulate and act on them. The challenge concludes with a pitch competition, where students present their ideas to a panel of judges for a chance at $1,500 in prizes.

Teen Entrepreneurship Challenge Camp

Location: Perkiomen School, Pennsburg, PA
Grades: 9–12

The Teen Entrepreneurship Challenge, sponsored by Penn State Lehigh Valley, is an exciting one-week residential summer camp for rising high school students that encourages innovative thinking and teaches business skills that last a lifetime. Students will identify problems that need solving, learn to think strategically, design business solutions, present a business pitch, and gain resources to support entrepreneurship.

Tennis Camps

Location: Penn State University Park campus

Tennis camps offered for various ages and skill levels.

Upward Bound

Location: Penn State Behrend campus
Grades: 9–12

Upward Bound is a six-week residential, co-ed summer program for high school students held at Penn State Behrend. Programming includes prep courses in math, science, and English. Students can take dual-enrollment classes if they qualify. Participants also are introduced to a world language and theatre.

Weather Camps

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 8–12

Campers gain hands-on experience in many aspects of meteorology, including weather analysis and forecasting, and prizes are awarded for the best work. Campers come from across the country and generally have a keen interest in the weather. While here, they visit the National Weather Service, the Mid-Atlantic River Forecast Center, and AccuWeather. They spend much of their time at Penn State’s Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science, but there is free time when activities generally include bonding with new-found friends while attending a baseball game, visiting the Arboretum at Penn State, or going bowling.

WISE (Women in Sciences and Engineering) Camp

Location: Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus
Grades: 6–8

Summer program that encourages the entry and success of women in STEM fields and promotes institutional and cultural change.

Program

4-H Programs

Academic/STEAM Camps

Location: Penn State Beaver campus

Every summer, Penn State Beaver offers a variety of children’s academic enrichment camps.

Anything is Possible for Girls in Electrical Engineering (APOGEE) Summer Camp

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 7–12

Arboretum Summer Drop-In Programs

Location: Penn State University Park campus

Architecture and Landscape Architecture Camp

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 7–11

An immersive summer camp for high school students to experience professional design programs in architecture and landscape architecture.

Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS)

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grade: 12

Camp Candle

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 9–12

College for Kids Summer Enrichment Program

Location: Penn State Behrend campus
Ages: 6–14

College for Kids is a summer enrichment program that offers a diverse selection of one-week, age-appropriate classes for children and teenagers.

Communications Camps

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 9–12

Three over-night weeklong camps are offered:

Broadcast Journalism Camp: Students will work in the same newsroom and studio used by award-winning Penn State students as they learn about TV news and sports productions. It’s an opportunity to explore essential broadcast journalism skills, news-gathering techniques, storytelling, and more.
Film Camp: This camp offers you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in film and video production. During the week on campus, campers will plan, shoot, and screen three separate projects.
Social Media and Content Creator Camp: This camp features the dual focus of using social media to build a personal creator presence online and further a new business.

Creating Virtual Worlds in Minecraft

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 7–9

Health and Human Development (HHD) Youth Camps

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 4–12

A variety of camps offered by the College of Health and Human Development on the topics of DNA, cooking, kinesiology, and more.

Introduction to Smart Materials and Devices

Location: Virtual
Grades: 6–12

Kids & Teen College Summer Camps

Location: Penn State Abington campus
Grades: 3–12

Penn State Abington Kids & Teen College is a fun-filled approach to academic learning during the summer months.

Kids’ College Summer Camp

Location: Penn State Altoona campus

Youth programs are offered for a variety of interests in academics, arts, and athletics.

Language Institute at Penn State

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 9–12

LEADS: An Early College Experience Program

Location: Penn State Behrend campus
Grade: 12

Med Camp

Location: Penn State Mont Alto campus
Grades: 9–10

My Tomorrow

Location: Pennsylvania College of Technology
Grades: 6–8

Nittany Cub Summer Camps

Location: Penn State Scranton campus

PA School for Excellence in the Agricultural Sciences

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grade: 12

Readiness Institute Summer Program

Location: Penn State Center Pittsburgh and central Pennsylvania
Grade: 12

A six-week paid experience to help rising high school seniors become community and future ready through skill workshops, networking, and more.

Science-U Summer Camps

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 2–8

Shaver’s Creek Summer Camps

Location: Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center
Ages: 4–14

Sports Camps

Location: Penn State Behrend Campus

Sports Camps

Location: Penn State Harrisburg campus

Sports Camps

Location: Penn State Scranton campus
Grades: 6–12

Sport Camps

Location: Penn State University Park campus

Penn State Athletics offers a variety of camps and clinics for youth and school teams during the summer.

Sports Camps and Clinics

Location: Penn State Mont Alto campus

STATE! (School of Theatre Artistry and Technical Education) Musical Theatre Summer Program

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 11–12

STATE ON STAGE! Acting Summer Program

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 11–12

STEM Camps

Location: Digital Foundry at New Kensington
Grades: 7–12

STEM Programs

Location: Penn State New Kensington campus
Grades: 1–12

Summer Camps

Location: Penn State Berks campus
Grades: 5–12

Summer Camps

Location: Penn State Fayette campus
Grades: 1–12

Summer Camps

Location: Pennsylvania College of Technology
Grades: 9–12

Summer Music Institute

Location: Penn State University Park campus
Grades: 9–12

Summer Sports Camps

Location: Penn State Beaver campus

Types of Opportunities for K-12 Youth

Academic Year Youth Programs and Events

Comprehensive Transition Programs

Contests and Challenges

Courses, Certifications, Internships, and Learning Opportunities

Family Friendly Public Events

Summer Camps and Programs

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