Youth Education Outreach Programs

Youth Education Outreach Programs

Youth Education Outreach at Penn State Behrend

In 2017, Youth Education Outreach at Penn State Behrend provided programming to more than 25,000 young people and teachers in the Erie region as part of the University's land-grant mission to serve the public good.

Penn State Behrend

Youth Education Outreach = Success in STEAM

Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics

Recognizing that successful communities and organizations start with young people who are motivated, educated, and excited to learn, Penn State Behrend offers Youth Education Outreach programs. These programs give area youth the opportunity to use the college's resources to participate in unique and exciting learning experiences.

Penn State Behrend offers more than two dozen K-12 youth outreach programs each year, which include: 21st Century Kids, Children's Water Festival, College for Kids, Engineering K-12 Outreach Center, FIRST LEGO League, High School Academy (HSA), Math Options, MCE/WISE, STEM Fair, and Women in Engineering.


Other programs offered include:

  • GE Girls @ Penn State Behrend: GE Girls is a week-long STEM camp for sixth and seventh grade girls in Erie's Public Schools. Young women are paired with female mentors from GE Transportation and exposed to topics such as robotics, electronic circuits, chemistry, structures, energy, and more!
  • Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS): PJAS is a statewide organization of junior and senior high school students designed to stimulate and promote interest in science through the development of research projects and investigations. The regional competition is held at Penn State Behrend.
  • Science Olympiad: Science Olympiad is one of the premier science competitions in the nation involving over 7,000 teams in all 50 states where teams of middle school and high school students engage in exciting and rigorous science competitions which are aligned with both PA science standards and national education standards.
  • Scout Events
    • Boy Scouts Go to College: Boy Scouts attend workshops at Penn State Behrend, where they earn merit badges in various areas.
    • Explorers: The Explorers program provides career exploration opportunities at Penn State Behrend for young people ages 14 and up. For more information contact Jared Magoon, Boy Scouts of America.
    • Girl Scout Saturdays: Girl Scout Saturday, hosted by the student chapter of the Society of Women Engineers each spring, introduces girls to different engineering career fields. Contact YouthOutreach@psu.edu for more information. 
  • Summer Sports Camps: The athletic department hosts various summer camps for young athletes.
  • Women in Business: Women in Business Day at Penn State Behrend's Black School of Business is designed for eleventh- and twelfth-grade girls. This program will introduce participants to many facets of business, and encourage them to explore their interests in business related careers.