Pre-College Programs to enrich participants’ summer experience

Building construction has been added to the abounding schedule of pre-college initiatives offered at Pennsylvania College of Technology, hands-on summer activities that mirror the nationally renowned opportunities afforded postsecondary students.

“Our Pre-College Programs offer living and learning experiences in which students have opportunities to explore unique academic interests in a state-of-the-art environment,” said Deborah B. Wescott, manager of conference and guest relations. “It’s a chance to work and make connections with industry leaders, meet and mingle with your peers, and establish a path that could lead to all sorts of future possibilities.”

The signup deadline is May 31 for the institution’s 12 residential programs and its one day camp.



The overnight camps (fees for which include on-campus housing and meals) are:

Architecture Odyssey
June 16-20, $450; students entering grades nine to 12
Participants will exercise their curiosity and creativity as they learn about the built environment and develop an appreciation for – and the skills necessary to produce – a sustainable future. Activities include design studio, workshops, seminars, field trips to building sites and visits with local architects.

Autism Spectrum Postsecondary Interest Experience
June 17-18 or June 20-21, $75; students entering grades 10 to 12
Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their parents will obtain valuable information about higher education and career exploration.

Automotive Restoration
June 16-19, $375; students entering grades 10 to 12
Students will discover what it takes to return vintage cars and trucks to their former glory while they immerse themselves in the world of automotive restoration. Workshops include sheet-metal forming, upholstery, pinstriping and paint simulation. Also included is a field trip to the Eagles Mere Auto Museum, where more than 75 cars from the 1950s and ’60s are on display.

Aviation
June 16-19, $350; students entering grades 10 to 12
High-schoolers can learn about composite and sheet-metal materials used in the fabrication and repair of many aircraft structures, then try their hand at common repairs tackled by professional aviation mechanics. They also will perform preoperational inspections, learn safety essentials of a gas turbine engine via the college’s Boeing 727 and test their aviation skills on a flight simulator. The program includes a trip to the Eagles Mere Air Museum to check out its impressive collection from the golden age of flying.

Building Construction
June 16-20, $450; students entering grades nine to 12
This program – the newest among Penn College’s summer offerings – will introduce young women and men to the construction industry through a host of hands-on experiences alongside faculty from the Building Construction Technology program. From technique to hands-on learning, students will learn everything they need to build their own timber-framed pavilions. They’ll also take a field trip to a sawmill and harvest mountain stone.

Engineering
June 19-20, $200; students entering grades 10 to 12
This engaging two-day program highlights the various ways engineers and engineering influence daily life, from building bridges and designing skateboards to manufacturing high-tech equipment and building robots. Through hands-on workshops in the college’s state-of-the-art labs and classrooms, students will explore such engineering concepts and careers as robotics and electronics, plastics and polymer engineering, machining, and welding.

Future Restaurateurs
June 16-20, $475; students entering grades nine to 12
Registrants will join chefs from the college’s hospitality department for an introduction to baking and pastry arts, culinary arts, and hospitality management. Among the experiences: field trips and hands-on workshops centered on developing kitchen and culinary/baking skills, menu planning, and an etiquette workshop.  At the conclusion of the program, parents are invited to a European-themed dinner to taste the delicious foods their children have created using skills learned during the week.

Graphic Design Summer Studio
June 16-19, $425; students entering grades 10 to 12
High school students interested in a career in graphic design will have an opportunity to work with faculty and students in the development of real-world visual design solutions. Workshops will take place in cutting-edge labs and studios with industry-standard hardware and software. The workshop culminates in an exhibition for parents and families.

Grow & Design Horticulture
June 16-19, $300; students entering grades 10 to 12
Through workshops at the college’s Schneebeli Earth Science Center, students will delve into the world of this “green” career that combines art and science – learning about such topics as greenhouse techniques, plant identification and production, floral design and entomology.

Health Careers
June 16-18, $200; students entering grades nine to 12
Students will travel a number of potential career paths including dental hygiene, health information technology, medical imaging, nursing, occupational therapy assistant, paramedic technology, physical therapist assistant, physician assistant and surgical technology. They will also tour various departments at UPMC Susquehanna and see health care professionals in the workplace.

Information Technology
June 16-18, $200; students entering grades 10 to 12
Participants will immerse themselves in hands-on activities with current Penn College students and faculty, sampling a variety of information technology fields including gaming, networking and cybersecurity. Workshops will guide participants in developing their own personal games, learning about hacking and discovering how computers communicate with one another.

SMART Girls
June 16-21, $250; girls entering grades nine to 11
Penn College developed Science and Math Applications in Real-World Technologies (SMART) Girls to counter an alarming academic and social trend: Young women tend to shy away from math and sciences as they enter adolescence and their important high school years. SMART Girls provides the opportunity to experience math and science as a foundation for careers in technology. This year’s participants will have a service-oriented opportunity to "MAKE a difference" in Penn College's makerspace, as well as hone their skills in a variety of other activities.

Offered as a day camp (fee includes all activities and art supplies):

Creative Art
June 17-18 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day), $110; students entering grades four to seven
Creative Art students will learn from two experienced art educators during this two-day camp: Andrea McDonough Varner, an instructor at Williamsport Area High School, will guide students as they explore drawing, collage and Akua ink printmaking techniques; Chelsea Cramer, a Cochran Primary School faculty member, will work with them to transform sketches into wearable art (from hats to accessories). Students will craft artwork using nontraditional materials, then celebrate their creations at a photo shoot.

In addition to exploring their wide-open career options, campers entering grades nine to 12 are eligible for up to $2,000 in financial aid should they enroll at Penn College. For more information – including scholarship and registration details – visit the Pre-College Programs website.

For information about the college, a national leader in applied technology education, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.