UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State College of Health and Human Development is offering a diverse lineup of five summer camps in 2026 for students ages 9 through 17, providing hands-on, immersive learning experiences across sports, science, cooking, hospitality management and community engagement. Each program is designed to help young people explore interests, build practical skills and gain exposure to potential academic and career pathways.
Cook Like a Chef
After a one-year hiatus, the popular Department of Nutritional Sciences Cook Like a Chef camp will be offered June 15-18. Open to youth ages 10 to 14, this hands-on experience offers campers the opportunity to learn about nutrition, kitchen skills and meal preparation while creating high-quality dishes in an interactive and supportive environment. Campers will work together in teams to create at least a dozen different recipes, tasting new foods, experimenting with fresh ingredients and discovering how delicious whole grains, greens, beans, healthy fats, dairy and non‑dairy alternatives can be. All activities will build skills and confidence in the kitchen, and after all their hard work, campers get to enjoy the meals they prepared together.
Where Sports and Science Meet
The Department of Kinesiology will offer Where Sports and Science Meet from June 23-26. This dynamic experience will introduce campers ages 9 to 14 to the field of kinesiology. They will explore research and career pathways through engaging sessions in athletic training, health and physical education, coaching, sports performance, fitness, physical therapy, disability sports, adapted physical activity and lifelong wellness. The camp blends movement with science to help students understand how the body works in sport and everyday life.
Total Athlete Development
New this year and offered by the Department of Kinesiology, Total Athlete Development is an off-season training camp designed for youth ages 13 to 16, to be held July 27-29. This program supports overall athletic growth by focusing on transferable skills that enhance performance across all sports, including conditioning, movement, strength and athletic mindset. Participants will understand how to properly warm up and stretch to enhance performance and prevent injury. They will dive into sport-specific training to build strength, power and athleticism, while developing safe, effective exercise habits for life. In addition, campers will receive insider nutrition tips from a registered dietitian to fuel their workouts and recovery. The camp will help build confidence and discipline through challenging but fun sessions.
Creating Opportunities for Young Hospitality Leaders
The School of Hospitality Management will offer Creating Opportunities for Young Hospitality Leaders (COYHL) from July 12-17 for rising high school juniors and seniors. COYHL is an intensive six-day, residential program designed to introduce campers to the broad range of the hospitality industry, major employers and the trends that influence this competitive industry. Expert faculty in the School of Hospitality Management, along with guest speakers, will lead presentations, provide hands-on experiences, software simulations and more. Campers will learn skills such as leadership, communication, teamwork and professional problem-solving through real-world experiences. Campers will also be introduced to college life at Penn State's University Park campus by sampling a college course, learning from expert faculty, and meeting current students who are majoring in hospitality management.
Community Hero Initiative Program
The Department of Kinesiology’s Community Hero Initiative Program (CHIP), offered July 6-9, is an interactive program for 10th and 11th-grade campers designed to help participants reflect, create and prepare for their future goals. Through team-building activities, guided discussions and experiential learning, campers will explore topics such as combating microaggressions and bias, building solidarity, promoting physical activity and mindfulness, and understanding food insecurity.
Collectively, these 2026 youth camps reflect the College of Health and Human Development’s commitment to experiential learning, youth development and community impact. Each program is led by Penn State faculty members and offers campers meaningful opportunities to learn, grow and connect.
For additional information and to register for any of the camps, visit the College of Health and Human Development's Youth Programs website. There is limited availability for each offering, and camps may fill up quickly.