WYOMISSING, Pa. — Students attending Penn State Berks summer camps in Reading will learn about various career fields, the world around them and themselves. The camps are for students entering fifth through eighth grades and ninth through 12th grades in fall 2023. Camps run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Five Star Review: Creating the Ultimate Social Experience
This camp is offered for grades five through eight from June 20–23, and for grades nine through 12 from July 24–27. The cost is $350.
This new camp will introduce students to careers in hospitality management. During this four-day camp, participants will be introduced to the broad spectrum of hospitality careers in traditional lodging, cruise and airline industries, theme parks, casinos, club management, resorts destinations, national parks, wedding and large event management, managed service, travel agencies and senior living. In the morning sessions, campers will learn the science and art behind menu generation; what it takes to plan, coordinate and manage a special event; and the leadership skills to manage a fast-paced work environment. After an in-depth tour of the college’s Tully’s Café kitchen, campers will engage in activities aimed at balancing limited resources of time and money with maximum guest expectations. Afternoons will be spent with Penn State Berks Chef Joe Ertel, gaining insight into kitchen safety, applying kitchen chemistry principles and getting hands-on experience creating culinary concoctions in our student test kitchen. Current hospitality management students, franchise restaurant owners and an award-winning pastry chef will make guest teaching appearances.
Camp Know Where
This camp is offered for grades five through eight from June 26–30, and the cost is $350.
Campers will experience a classic 1980s summer, with supervision and better internet, and a multitude of awesome throwback fun. Camp Know Where is designed to explore STEAM-based projects for intuitive and creative problem solving. Morning sessions begin with Stranger Things improv through themed, unscripted games that improve social function, collaboration, problem solving and communication skills; create self-awareness; and improve confidence. Campers will explore the science of the 1980s by building a radio, exploring the extra-terrestrial realm, figuring out how things are made and learning the science behind the filming. They will revisit their parents' favorite interactive board games and crafting activities such as making slime, friendship bracelets, freeze pops, tie-dye shirts or tube socks and other 1980s swag. Campers will learn life skills like how to ‘air pop’ popcorn, toast Cheerios, and make some classic 1980s recipes while preparing for an interactive watch party where they will apply what they learn with an ultimate gaming session of Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons, building friendships along the way.
Rocketing Ahead: An Engineering Discovery Camp
This camp is offered for grades eight through 12 from July 10–14, and the cost is $400.
Campers will explore basic engineering concepts and principles as they develop, design and construct air-powered airplanes and model rockets. Participants will exercise creativity and innovation by designing and constructing a structure with a single sheet of paper. Then they will be challenged with a group project to design and build a structure using the K'Nex system. Their success will depend on teamwork, communication, vision and construction skills. Campers will also learn about aerodynamics and rockets. They will learn to use the RocSim software to design and analyze rocket performance. The first task will be to use the computer to model a commercial hobby rocket kit, which each participant will then have to construct and decorate. Next, teams will work together to design, model and build a rocket from scratch. The third stage involves the design, simulation, and construction of a multi-stage rocket. All designs will be evaluated and approved for safety by the instructor before the team is allowed to build and launch the rocket in a safe setting on the last day of the camp.
Enrollment Penn State Berks summer camps is limited and early registration is recommended. For more information or to print an application, visit berks.psu.edu/ce/summer-camps or call Continuing Education at 610-396-6225.