Bring Our Children to Work Day Activities
Below are the descriptions, age levels and locations for activities for Bring Your Child To Work Day:
| Title | Description | Location | Age Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour of the Dairy Barns | Participants will be taken on a tour of the University dairy complex to learn how we take care of the animals and handle milking. We will also talk about research happening at the complex and how it benefits farmers. Participants must wear closed toed shoes, and not have been outside of the U.S. in the past three weeks. | Dairy Barn Complex 170 DAIRY COMPLEX | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10) Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13) High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Stepping back into time: earliest Animal Science Research | Visit the historic site, step inside the instrument, learn about scientists who contributed to Penn State's earliest research, speak with researchers who continue this work today to appreciate how much has changed (technology and our understanding of the natural world) and stayed the same (scientific method, research design, passion and curiosity that inspires scientists). | Armsby Respiration Calorimeter, Curtin Road at Pavilion Theatre/Visual Arts Bldg 294 CURTIN RD | High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Feelings Badges | Kids are invited to create their own Feelings Badge—a fun, hands-on activity that helps children identify emotions and learn healthy ways to handle them at work and beyond. Through drawing, decorating, and sharing, kids will build emotional awareness, self-expression, and confidence, all while taking home a badge they can proudly wear! | Chambers 221, Curtin Rd | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13) |
| Tour of the Frost Entomological Museum | Take a tour of the Frost Entomological Museum, which houses the insect and related arthropod collections of Penn State. Learn about natural history collections and the type of research that happens in museums. There will be an optional opportunity to pin an insect specimen for the collection! | Frost Entomological Museum -- 498 Curtin Rd | High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Nature Crafts with Kids | Two activities are available to satisfy different age ranges. Young children can write a wish on seed paper and have the opportunity to plant it and watch it grow. Older children will be growing and tasting microgreens. | Tentative based on 25Live: HH1 room 123 444 CURTIN RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13) |
| Penn State Berkey Creamery Tour | The Berkey Creamery welcomes you for an exciting tour from their observation room where you'll learn about the Cow-to-Cone process, view the production plant, and more! | Penn State Berkey Creamery 555 CURTIN RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Tour(s) of the Bryce Jordan Center | The Bryce Jordan Center will be offering tours highlighting the venue, sharing updates and cool stories about the history of the BJC. | Throughout the BJC 720 CURTIN RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Tour of the Penn State Bakery | Take a peek behind the curtain of the Penn State Bakery! Learn how fresh bread, pastries, and desserts are made for the Penn State community since 1947. Guests will need to be supervised at all times and wear closed-toe shoes and a hair restraint for safety. | Housing and Food Services Building 623 SERVICES RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Beam Splitter | Get some on-screen exposure with an effective old-school technology to create visual effects. | 2 Willard Building 98 POLLOCK RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Tour of Hostetter Business Services | Take a tour of the print and mail facility. Closed-toe shoes are required for safety. | Hostetter Business Services 635 SERVICES RD | Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| TV Studio Tour | Visit the television studio control room and then go into the studio to "deliver" a weather forecast or share some "breaking news." | 3 Willard Building 98 POLLOCK RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13) High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Joel N. Myers Weather Center and Ban Family Studios Tour | Check out the ingredients of a weather forecast from data collection to television presentation and discuss a few career options within meteorology while touring the Joel N. Myers Weather Center and Department of Meteorology & Atmospheric Science's Ban Family (TV) studio, from where the popular Pennsylvania weather show, Weather World, is produced and recorded. | 606 Walker Building 375 STEAM DR | Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13) High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Earth arts and crafts | Make your own trilobite mask and paper crystals! We will host an arts & crafts station with the supplies to create (and decorate!) paper masks, crystals, and fossil creatures. | EMS Museum Gallery, 6 Deike Building 223 N BURROWES RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); |
| Everyday chemistry | Explore the chemistry of everyday things, including polymers and food coloring, through hands-on experiments. | 106 Whitmore Lab 172 OLD COALY WAY | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13) |
| Encaustic Painting | The Office of Science Outreach invites high school participants to explore the art and science of encaustic painting. Guests will create their own wax-based artworks while learning about the chemistry of beeswax, heat‑induced phase changes, and how light interacts with translucent layers of color. This hands‑on activity blends creativity with scientific discovery, perfect for curious teens interested in art, materials science, or STEM. | McAllister 114 250 POLLOCK RD | High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Paper Circuits | The Office of Science Outreach invites elementary participants to design their own glowing paper circuits during. Kids will use copper tape, LEDs, and batteries to learn how electricity flows through a circuit while exploring concepts like conductivity, open and closed circuits, and basic engineering design. This fun, hands‑on activity lets young creators make art that lights up while discovering the science behind how everyday electronic devices work. | McAllister 114 250 POLLOCK RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); |
| Create Your Dream Classroom, Playground or School Bus | There will be a series of stations where parents and kids can choose activities. Kids will be asked, "If you were a teacher, what would your dream classroom, playground, or school bus look like?" Then they will work with their parent to create it from crafting materials. | Krause Pedagogical Innovation Laboratory (202 Chambers Building). KPIL is on the second floor of Chambers, accessible via the atrium. Enter through the doors facing Curtin Road and head up the stairs. 428 ALLEN RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10) |
| Little Changemakers Lab | Visit a space where kids can explore who they are and how they can make a difference! Through creative, hands-on experiences and collaborative activities, children and families are invited to build, create, and imagine while learning new skills and discovering what makes them shine. Activities are designed to encourage creativity, critical thinking, teamwork, and meaningful contribution through guided exploration and play. Each child will leave with a special keepsake and a stronger sense of confidence in themselves as future changemakers. | Krause Innovation Studio 428 ALLEN RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10) |
| Grown-Ups Keep Learning | In this guided activity, we'll create a zine (a small booklet) that explores the idea that learning doesn’t stop when you grow up. Participants will be invited to imagine something a grown-up might need to learn, how people learn in different ways, what helps someone keep trying when learning feels hard. | 4th floor Grange Building 366 POLLOCK RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13) |
| Yes, There's a Nuclear Reactor On Campus | We'll provide demonstrations of the Breazeale Nuclear Reactor, so participants can see the blue Cherenkov glow. We'll discuss a bit about the 70-year history of the facility and the research that happens here. | Breazeale Nuclear Reactor Building in the South East corner of campus 145 SCHOLARSHIP DR | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13) High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Interactive Extended Reality (XR) Technology Showcase | Students will dive into amazing extended reality adventures, like controlling water levels from inside a virtual world, designing creations with augmented reality LEGO, stepping into a mixed reality firefighter mission, and discovering how all these cool technologies team up with generative AI and real robots! | Room 6 Electrical Engineering West (basement) 86 POLLOCK RD | Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Engineering Challenge | Engineering is about designing solutions to problems. In this interactive activity, students will work in small teams to design and build their own paper roller coaster using simple materials. Along the way, they'll explore core engineering concepts and problem‑solving through hands‑on experimentation. The activity is highly flexible and allows students to participate at their own comfort level. Teams can divide tasks, such as designing, cutting, building, testing, or problem‑solving—so every child can contribute meaningfully regardless of skill or experience. The open‑ended design encourages creativity, collaboration, and hands‑on learning, making it accessible and engaging for students with varied abilities and interests. | 314 ECoRE 556 WHITE COURSE DR | Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Coding Robots! | Students are invited to have fun while coding using our Root coding iRobots and iPad app. You can have your robot draw, light up, make music, and navigate an obstacle course. Different styles and levels of coding make these robots adaptable to those who are new to coding and those who have experience. Our robots are adaptable to a variety of skill and ability levels. We will have engineering undergraduates helping with the activity to give one-on-one help to participants as needed. | 201 ECoRE (common area on the 2nd floor) 556 WHITE COURSE DR | Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| BUILD a Hologram Reflector | BUILD a Hologram Reflector: In this activity, kids assemble pre-cut cardboard pieces by hot-gluing the sides and placing a reflector in the center to create an enclosure that works as a hologram projector for a phone. To test it, they play a 3D video and can see a floating hologram-like image inside the box. | Engineering Design and Innovation Building. 4th Floor. Design Den. 660 WHITE COURSE DR | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| BUILD a Snow Globe | BUILD a Snow Globe: In this activity, kids assemble a snow globe by gluing decorations inside, adding LED blights, and attaching everything to a base. Once finished, the snow globe lights up and could work as a small night lamp that they can take home. | Engineering Design and Innovation Building. 4th Floor. Design Den. 660 WHITE COURSE DR | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders | Participants can choose to complete up to 3 different exploratory activities 1) Hearing - learn about the career of audiology, how hearing is screened and how equipment such as a tympanometer and otoscope work to check ear function; 2) Communication - learn about the career of speech-language pathology and how you can interact with others without the use of spoken words using special augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) equipment; and 3) Sign Language - learn about Deaf culture and the career of sign language interpreting, how to communicate using American Sign Language. | Ground floor, first floor, and third floor of the Donald H. Ford Building - check in at 308 Donald H Ford Building 498 ALLEN RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Pipette Art with the One Health Microbiome Center | Kids will use colorful dyed water and real lab pipettes to create playful designs in this hands-on pipette art activity led by the One Health Microbiome Center. Participants will practice a fundamental laboratory skill while interacting with microbiome scientists and exploring creativity with scientific tools. | Huck Life Sciences Building, 3rd floor bridge 101 LM BUILDING | Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Picture This | Participants will explore the differences between creations made by their own imagination and those produced with artificial intelligence (AI) through four hands-on activity stations. At From Doodle to Dazzle, students will draw a picture from a prompt and then use an AI tool to transform their drawing into a more detailed digital version, allowing them to compare human creativity with AI interpretation. In the IST Builder Challenge, students will receive an AI-generated building prompt and race to construct a LEGO creation within a time limit, with AI serving as a playful commentator and judge. At the IST Arcade, participants will use AI-assisted tools to help create a simple, playable video game, demonstrating how AI can support human creativity in technology design. Finally, in Is It (AI) Cake?, students will examine images and decide whether they are real photographs or AI-generated, encouraging critical thinking about digital media. Across all stations, students will discover how people and AI can create differently—and how understanding technology helps us use it wisely and creatively. | Westgate E215 (Berardi Student Engagement Center) 288 N BURROWES RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10) |
| A Day in the life of Desktop Support: Fix It, Secure It, Support It! | This Activity gives students a hands-on look at how Desktop Support keeps technology running by engaging in four different stations. They will explore real computer parts to learn hardware basics; act out troubleshooting scenarios to understand how technicians solve common problems; practice cyber safety skills like building strong passwords and spotting phishing attempts; and complete a Fix-It Challenge where they will set up a workstation. These activities show how IT supports people everyday by fixing computers, solving technical issues, and keeping systems secure. Some computer components have small parts and sharp plastic corners. | 021, 025, 026 Shields Building | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Explore the Museum | The All-Sports Museum honors the student-athletes and coaches through history who have helped make Penn State’s intercollegiate athletic program one of the best in the nation. Join our staff and volunteers for explorations through the Museum - visit the main galleries highlighting 37 different athletic teams over the last 150 years - see the our new special exhibit "The Way I Saw It," featuring over 100 incredible images shot by photojournalist Pat Little during his career - and take a ride up to get an elevated view inside Beaver Stadium! | Inside the All-Sports Museum. Main entrance on Curtin Road 761 CURTIN RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Kids Judge, Parents Plead, Everyone Wins When We Learn About Workplace Dispute Resolution | Jump into a lively simulation where families receive a crash course in labor and employment arbitration. Participants will serve in age-appropriate roles as arbitrators (elementary schoolers), witnesses (middle schoolers), and advocates (high schoolers and parents) to experience how formal procedures, evidence, and reasoned decision-making help resolve disputes and promote fairness at work and at home! This interactive activity is hosted by Penn State’s School of Labor and Employment Relations (SLER), which prepares students for careers in human resources, law, labor relations, public policy, and management. Through hands-on learning like this, SLER students build career-ready skills in critical thinking, communication, conflict resolution, and organizational leadership—skills that employers consistently value across industries. | 502 Keller Building 199 FISHCER RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Research Detective: Unlocking the Secrets of the Library | Join the Libraries for this fun and interactive program that includes a behind-the-scenes library tour! Participants will use library resources and work together to answer questions, locate clues, and share their discoveries. | Dewey Room, W043 (ground floor) Pattee Library West 94 CURTIN RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Fermentation Facility tour and fermentation fun facts | There will be a tour of the facility services, showing the state-of-the-art stainless steel fermenters to do pilot scale fermentation using different microbes to produce different products like proteins, enzymes, probiotics, pigments, etc. There might be an activity to show the students various microscopic slides to help identify different groups of microbes seen through phase contrast microscopy. | CSL Behring Fermentation Facility located in the Agricultural Engineering Building 436 SHORTLIDGE RD | Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Sustainability Experience Center Tour + Visit | Take a guided tour of Penn State's nine-acre Sustainability Experience Center, featuring scenic views of Mount Nittany, and explore highlights of the site, including the MorningStar Solar Home and the Eco-Machine greenhouse. Learn about sustainability in design, hands-on research and innovative approaches to energy, food, and ecological systems. Visitors are encouraged to wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes and dress for outdoor conditions, as the tour includes walking around outdoors. | Sustainability Experience Center, Porter Rd, University Park, PA 16802 164 RENEWABLE RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Studio Tours | We will give a tour of the station, including a chance to experience a green screen and learn about all the work that goes into creating TV and radio broadcasts. | WPSU Studios is located at the Outreach Building at 100 Innovation Blvd. | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Arboretum Natural Lands Guided Hikes | During this guided hike program for children and their grown-ups, participants will explore our lesser-known spaces including the Hartley Wood and Arboretum prairie lands. Arboretum educators will depart from the Overlook Pavilion and proceed to the Arboretum's natural areas after a short program introduction. Please plan to wear shoes suitable for rustic trails and dress for the weather. This program will take place rain or shine but may be cancelled without notice in the event of extreme weather (heavy snow or rain, extreme heat/cold, thunderstorms, etc.). Please plan to wear shoes suitable for rustic trails and dress for the weather. This program is open to all ages with a parent or guardian who is responsible for their supervision at all times. Please leave pets at home! | The Arboretum at Penn State 216 ARBORETUM SERVICE RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Soil Watercolors | Join us to create earth-based pigments using soil, clay, and other natural materials. You’ll leave with a little mess on your hands—and a lot of color on your canvas. It could be messy, so dress accordingly. | Palmer Studio Classroom 650 BIGLER RD | High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Materials Science IRL: Building Better Stuff | Step inside Penn State’s Materials Characterization Lab and explore how scientists study metals, plastics, ceramics, and other materials to improve the products we use every day—from high‑performance sports gear and advanced electronics to next‑generation medical devices. Students will get an up‑close look at the tools researchers rely on to understand how a material’s properties lead to stronger, lighter, and more reliable technology across countless industries, including a microscope capable of “seeing” single atoms. Lab safety glasses will be provided. Closed-toed shoes & pants are required. | The Materials Characterization Lab - Millennium Science Complex 491 POLLOCK RD | Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Experience Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality | Participants will learn some basic information about what Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) are. Participants will learn about some of the potential these technologies can offer, as well as interact with some VR and MR objects. Participants will be placed in a virtual environment with passthrough enabled, allowing them to see the real world around them while also being able to see and interact with virtual objects in the space around them. | Immersive Lab W003 Pattee 94 CURTIN RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Mind Jars | We will highlight how our brain reacts when we’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed and how to calm the mind using a "mind jar." Following five easy steps, students will leave the session with a mind jar that that will bring them a little peace of mind. | 102 HUB Flourish Suite 288 POLLOCK RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Fabric Collage Workshop | Inspired by our current exhibition in Art Alley, the HUB-Robeson Galleries presents a fabric collage workshop. Participants will use fabric scraps and adhesive to create their own works of art. All ages welcome, collaboration is encouraged. | HUB-Robeson Center, Art Alley 288 POLLOCK RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10) |
| Water Smarts: Safety and Science at McCoy | Participants will enjoy a guided tour of the McCoy indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities, take part in hands-on chemistry testing with a demonstration of water titration, and participate in a brief junior lifeguarding and basic water rescue activity conducted from land, giving kids the opportunity to learn about water safety and responsible behaviors around aquatic environments. | McCoy Natatorium 387 BIGLER RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Center for Arts & Crafts | The Center for Arts and Crafts offers a variety of non-credit art classes and art educational programs every semester to Penn State students and staff that are designed to promote creative expression, learning new skills, and self-care. From wheel-thrown pottery and painting to stained glass, crochet and printmaking, the classes cover a wide range of interests. Learn about the art programs, student involvement, and community events. Show your creative side and participate in a fun art project! | 3 Ritenour Building 371 POLLOCK RD | Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Mini Interview Game / Role Play & Resume Art / My Dream Job | Mini Interview Game / Role Play: Kids get to ask questions and “interview” staff or each other for fun, silly jobs (like “Chief Cookie Taster” or “Superhero Trainer”). This activity teaches curiosity, communication, and gives a playful peek at what this office does in coaching and interviews. Resume Art / My Dream Job: Children draw their dream job and list skills they think they’d need.This is hands-on, creative, and directly connects to the idea of careers and planning in a way kids can understand. Participants will receive a small “My Dream Job” certificate to take home. | 101 Bank of America Career Services Building 566 Eisenhower Rd | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13) |
| We all need help sometimes | Kids will work together in fun challenges where each person controls an important part of the task, just like people sometimes use different tools or supports to do their best, like sharing a game controller or building a tower with different materials. No one can do everything alone, so participants must communicate, problem-solve, and rely on each other’s strengths to succeed. These activities show that when people have different roles and supports, working together makes things possible and more fun. | 101 Boucke 325 POLLOCK RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Hands On Papermaking | This event is suitable for all ages and will teach attendees how to use recycled paper and plants to make new handmade paper. Those in attendance will get to take home their own finished paper and an instructional handout. Both regular and decorative paper will be made during the event. | Dewey Room Pattee/ Paterno Library 94 CURTIN RD | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Overview of University Police and Public Safety | Step inside University Police and Public Safety (UPPS) and experience public safety up close! Meet our police officers and K‑9 officer(s), go behind the scenes with an exclusive tour of police dispatch, and connect with specialized teams including Physical Security, Emergency Management, Environmental Health and Safety, and more. | University Support Building I 8 UNIVERSITY DR | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |
| Landscaping Tour | Penn State’s beautiful campus landscaping doesn’t happen on accident – it’s carefully planned, planted, and maintained by OPP’s Grounds Services team. Starting at Tower Road Landscape Shop, tour the team’s greenhouse and learn all about the landscaping operations from spring flower planting to tree care and everything in between. Then hop in the van to visit the campus' composting facility to learn about how food and landscaping waste is turned into soil before being reapplied to the campus landscape. Closed-toe shoes are required for safety. | Tower Road Landscape shop | Elementary (Grades 2–5 / Ages 7-10); Middle School (Grades 6–8 / Ages 11-13); High School (Grades 9–12 / Ages 14-18) |