Penn State Mont Alto STEM Camp registration now open

Mont Alto STEM Camp Robotics

Students test their robots before challenging other teams in the Lego Mindstorms EV3 robotics competition at Penn State Mont Alto’s STEM Camp 2017. During this week-long day camp, held at the Mont Alto campus, ninth and 10th grade students explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics with hands-on activities. This year’s STEM Camp is July 9-13.

Credit: Roxann Miller

MONT ALTO, Pa. — Penn State Mont Alto is currently taking registrations for its annual STEM Camp, which provides incoming ninth and 10th graders opportunities to learn about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through hands-on activities facilitated by University faculty.

This year’s STEM Camp will be held Monday through Friday, July 9-13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day on the Mont Alto campus.

While the “home base” for the camp will be Penn State Mont Alto, campers will also be transported to two field-trip locations.

Youths will visit the state-of-the-art Pennsylvania Research and Teaching Laboratory for Biofuels at Penn State Harrisburg to learn about high tech DNA profiling techniques. They will also travel to Manitowoc, Shady Grove, Pennsylvania, to learn about engineering from the company’s world-class engineers.

“This is a truly unique experience for tech-savvy teens who want to immerse themselves in all things STEM while interacting with like-minded campers,” said Helen McGarry, director of continuing education.

Career opportunities in STEM-related fields continue to grow, with 8.6 million STEM jobs in 2015 alone, according to the United States Department of Labor and Statistics.

“We want to help foster an interest in STEM and STEM careers by offering this fun and engaging opportunity for campers to work with Penn State faculty in a hands-on learning environment,” McGarry said.

The cost of STEM camp is $185 and includes lunch, daily snacks and transportation to field trips.

During the week-long day camp, participants will challenge other teams in Lego Mindstorms EV3 robotics competitions, delve into the world of chemistry, test their flying skills with Quad Copter X5 drones, get up close and personal with computers, and much more.

Interested students can register online at montalto.psu.edu/stemcamp. Registration deadline is May 18.

For more information, call 717-749-4117.