Science - U is an outreach program of the Pennsylvania State University's Eberly College of Science. In existence since 2001, these camps bring together University faculty, researchers, graduate students and undergraduates to teach hands-on, science-based laboratories and activities to young people from second grade to grade 12.

Each camp is a program overseen by a lab director who has a PhD in the program topic. Each classroom also has an instructor to lead the class and mentors who are responsible for small groups of 4-6 students. Outside the classroom, activity staff and mentors provide supervision. All staff and mentors have complete security clearances and are chosen through a rigorous application and interview process to work in Science - U camps.

The strength of our programs lies in the creativity, enthusiasm, initiative and caring of our staff. We strive to meet the needs of each individual participant.

We are ready to welcome your child(ren) to an exciting science experience this summer!

Here are a few comments from parents of campers in previous years:

"This has to be the premiere camp in Central, PA. In terms of value, quality of instruction, and sheer enjoyment on my child's part, it's a no brainer. I would be remiss in not signing her up every year."
Mother of Emma, age 6

"This camp proves you can learn and have fun at the same time. Summer is not just sleeping in and hanging out. My daughter was able to have a college experience at the age of 13."
Mother of Ami, age 13

"We loved the multidisciplinary approach to each week of camp which provides exposure to many different scientific areas. It was both educational and enjoyable."
Mother of Jack, age 10

"My child was enthralled with the interactive activities and discovery nature of the program. She talked about each day's activities and how the science story unfolded before her eyes."
Mother of Emily, age 10

"A wonderful opportunity to interact with my grandchild from lunch choices to program content and activities. Thank you."
Grandparent of Evan, age 15

"The kids have fun working with other kids and staff problem solving interesting cases. Kids from all over can get together and work and have a great time with each other while learning a love for science and problem solving."
Father of Stefan, age 10

"My daughter immensely enjoyed the [resident] camp especially the overnight stay and the extracurricular evening activities."
Father of Leah, age 13

• Catch the Wave: Advantures in Sounds and Light. Grades 2- 3, June 22 - 26. $250 - $280, commuter only.

Surf's up in the lab this summer as your children discover how the properties of light and sound mimic the rhythmic movements in our oceans.

Your child(ren) will explore their senses and learn more about what helps us to see and hear. They’ll also investigate how light and sound travel through things and what comes out on the other end!

Join our orchestra of musical instruments made from water glasses, straws, coat hangers and rubber bands to learn about how different sounds are made and how sound travels.

• Science - U Energy Crew. Grades 5 - 8, June 22 - 26. $280 - $310 commuter, $630 - $660 residential.

Hey, energy consumers! Come be a part of the Science - U Energy Crew and learn more about energy. Experiment and understand how energy is transferred from one form to another. Spend time learning how your body can use food as energy, how machines generate power to heat/cool our homes, how the sun can make our cars run, and discover the many ways to save on energy costs at home and at school!

There's no better time to explore how to save the planet, too! Come join the energy experts and learn about solar power, wind power, biodiesel fuel, coal, and nuclear energy! Understand how to "stay green" at your home and sustain the earth's resources for future generations.

As a next generation energy scientist, your child will conduct hands-on experiments and meet with Penn State energy experts. S/he will gain new skills and knowledge and make new friends.

• Science - U Leadership Academy. Grades 11 - 12, June 28 - July 3. $395 - $425 commuter, $695 - $725 residential.

The Science-U Leadership Academy is a one-week camp dedicated to developing leadership qualities in young scientists including:

• Effective communication
• Vision
• Character and Diversity
• Failure and Innovation
• Self reflection

Campers will be challenged to work in teams, develop and present arguments, write a failure resume, become a chef, and create an e-portfolio.

In order to register for this camp, interested students must complete the application form online. This includes submitting two letters of recommendation from non-family members: teachers, coaches, counselors, or other adults 25 years or older in the community.  

• A selection committee will then determine which students are accepted, subject to an enrollment cap (20 students).
• Once the applicant is notified that he/she has been accepted, he/she can then register online for camp.

--APPLICATIONS ARE DUE MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2009--

• CSI- The Case of the Suprious Spaceman. Grades 4 - 8, July 5 - 10. $280 - $310 commuter, $630 - $ residential.

Tragedy strikes as a member of the Penn State Space Cadets is murdered and a fellow cadet is accused of perpetrating the crime. The police believe they have an ironclad case, but a friend of the suspect has evidence to the contrary. We need your junior forensic scientist to help unravel this tangled mystery and bring the true guilty party to justice.

Your young scientists will become members of an investigative team that will develop vital evidence in the laboratory and present it to a "jury" of their peers. They will learn how to collect evidence, map the crime scene, and conduct a number of experiments on the evidence they discover. They will also learn about "contamination" to determine whether or not their samples have been compromised.

As a forensic scientist in training, your child will conduct hands-on experiments and meet with Penn State experts. S/he will gain new skills and knowledge and make new friends.

• Busted! Myth Meets Science. Grades 5 - 8, July 12 - 17. $280 - $310 commuter, $630 - $660 residential.

So you want to be a scientist? This camp presents the ultimate opportunity to be fearless, design experiments, ask questions, and disprove (or prove!) misconceptions and myths about science!

Have you ever heard an urban legend or myth and then asked the question,"Is that really true?" Answers to questions like that are found only when someone tests the theory. Scientists are always in search of answers, and as a member of the myth buster team at Penn State this summer, you will put a number of myths and misconceptions you may have heard either on TV or from a friend to the test!

At this all new camp kids will work together to uncover the truth and discover their inner scientists.

What kinds of myths or ideas will you and your teammates be testing? Each day we will focus on a theme and test a number of common beliefs. Several themes are: (1) Weird, Wondrous, Water; (2) Bacteria: The Invisible Wonder Bug; and (3) Energy: It Never Rests.

You are bound to be surprised by what you discover! It's time to ask youself "What do I believe?" Come join us and find out!

• Stock Market Madness. Grades 10 - 12, July 12 - 17. $395 - $425 commuter, $795 - $825 residential.

Stock Market Madness provides you with a glimpse into the world of finance and the stock market. You'll spend a week in the state-of-the-art Trading Room at Penn State's Smeal College of Business and participate in trading games and learn about probability, statistics, and portfolio theory. You'll study important basics about financial management from Penn State professors and students--and find out whether a career in finance is right for you.

Highlights

• Learn from Penn State finance professors and current students
• Spend the week in the new Business Building--the largest academic facility on campus
• Explore careers in finance
• Experience campus life at Penn State University
• Meet students from across the country
• Compete for prizes in daily games and competitions

Activities

• Trade and compete in simulated financial markets
• Work in teams to analyze your favorite companies
• Build models in Microsoft Excel to analyze and value stocks
• Use the tools of Wall Street professionals (Bloomberg, Reuters, Tradestation)
• Learn how poker strategies are applied to investing
• Take field trips to the campus pool, Beaver Stadium, Sports Museum, Berkey Creamery, and a State College Spikes baseball game.

• Busted! Myth Meets Science. Grades 5 - 8, July 19 - 24. $280 - $310 commuter, $630 - $660 residential.

So you want to be a scientist? This camp presents the ultimate opportunity to be fearless, design experiments, ask questions, and disprove (or prove!) misconceptions and myths about science!

Have you ever heard an urban legend or myth and then asked the question,"Is that really true?" Answers to questions like that are found only when someone tests the theory. Scientists are always in search of answers, and as a member of the myth buster team at Penn State this summer, you will put a number of myths and misconceptions you may have heard either on TV or from a friend to the test!

At this all new camp kids will work together to uncover the truth and discover their inner scientists.

What kinds of myths or ideas will you and your teammates be testing? Each day we will focus on a theme and test a number of common beliefs. Several themes are: (1) Weird, Wondrous, Water; (2) Bacteria: The Invisible Wonder Bug; and (3) Energy: It Never Rests.

You are bound to be surprised by what you discover! It's time to ask youself "What do I believe?" Come join us and find out!

• CSI - The Case of the Spurious Spaceman. Grades 4 - 8, July 26 - 31. $280 - $310 commuter, $630 - $660 residential.

Tragedy strikes as a member of the Penn State Space Cadets is murdered and a fellow cadet is accused of perpetrating the crime. The police believe they have an ironclad case, but a friend of the suspect has evidence to the contrary. We need your junior forensic scientist to help unravel this tangled mystery and bring the true guilty party to justice.

Your young scientists will become members of an investigative team that will develop vital evidence in the laboratory and present it to a "jury" of their peers. They will learn how to collect evidence, map the crime scene, and conduct a number of experiments on the evidence they discover. They will also learn about "contamination" to determine whether or not their samples have been compromised.

As a forensic scientist in training, your child will conduct hands-on experiments and meet with Penn State experts. S/he will gain new skills and knowledge and make new friends.

• Natural Born Killers: Food Borne Illness and the Microbial Menace. Grades 8 - 10, July 26 - 31. $280 - $310 commuter, $630 - $660 residential. 

You’ve probably seen the commercial for a pink liquid medicine that goes something like:  “…nausea…heartburn…indigestion…upset stomach…diarrhea.” While the jingle is catchy and the commercial is funny, it’s important to realize that diarrhea and other symptoms caused by a foodborne illness are no laughing matter. 

In the United States, it has been estimated that there are millions of illnesses, thousands of hospitalizations, and approximately five thousand deaths each year attributed to eating contaminated foods.

Given the global nature and complexity of the food system, identifying the cause of a foodborne illness outbreak is much like finding “a needle in a haystack” and requires CSI detective-like skills of trained food microbiologist to uncover. 

In this camp, food microbiologists-in training will be introduced to the food system.  They will learn what steps go into harvesting some of our food from plants and animals and what it takes to make our foods safe and wholesome. When things go awry--and they can—food microbiologists-in training will learn the skills needed to determine the source and cause of the contamination including laboratory methods in microbial forensics that are required to identify, track down, and eliminate the offending organism(s). And finally, participants will have the opportunity to participate in a mock trial where they will use their communication skills to convince a judge or jury that their laboratory investigations and resulting evidence will implicate or defend the perpetrator(s) of the outbreak.