UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A summer camp offered by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences will teach junior and senior high students skills that can enable them to do vital community service now, while introducing them to an exciting, high-tech career option for the future.

The third annual Penn State Geospatial Technology Summer Camp, to be held July 30-Aug. 3 at Penn State’s University Park campus, will allow 12- to 18-year-old youth to have hands-on fun with high-tech global positioning systems and computers. At the same time, participants will address real-world challenges and develop skills that they can use immediately in their communities, says Stewart Bruce senior extension associate in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences.

“Last year, the kids learned to use ArcView geographic information system software to map a water company and to map hiking trails at Shavers Creek Environmental Center in Huntingdon County,” he says. “We discovered an endangered spider species that had never been seen before in the region, so we made it into the newspapers; it was pretty cool.”

Campers will learn to use geographic information systems software, global positioning systems hardware and remote-sensing data in the laboratory and in the field to map specific landscape features and collect data that will be used in analyzing a project area. They will also combine this data with remote-sensed satellite imagery to prepare a project report with large-scale maps for presentation to the group. The projects could include tasks as diverse as mapping underground water and sewer lines, planning for future community growth or locating a site for the next Wal-Mart store.

Bruce says participants will have so much fun exploring, mapping and using computers, they won’t realize that they’re learning technology skills that are in great demand in the job market.

“The U.S. Department of Labor has designated geospatial technologies as one of the top 10 career growth fields, and there are shortages of people in that career,” he says. “We hope by introducing youth to geospatial technologies, they’ll get excited about it and see it as a possible future educational and career option, because the industry definitely needs workers and offers good-paying jobs.”

After the camp ends, the boys and girls will be encouraged to use their new skills in community service projects through existing 4-H clubs in almost every county in the state. “Pretty much every county government in Pennsylvania now has a GIS department,” Bruce says. “And there are staff working there now who would love it if three or four kids would show up and say, ‘We’re looking for a community service project. Is there something we can map for you?’”

All campers will be housed in Penn State’s student dormitories and will receive meals through the campus dining halls. Each evening a variety of relaxing and fun recreational activities such as swimming are planned.

The camp is sponsored by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, and the Penn State Cooperative Extension Geospatial Technology Program. The registration fee, which covers all costs associated with the camp, is $95 until June 8; after that date the registration fee will be $165. A limited number of scholarships are available for youth with financial need.

Walk-in registrations will be accepted as space allows. Adult volunteers are needed to participate in activities with the camp attendees. No experience with geospatial technologies is required, but all adults not currently employed by Penn State must provide a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance form to participate.

To register or receive a detailed schedule, contact Stewart Bruce at 814-863-7609 or by e-mail at stew@psu.edu. Registration information also is available on the Web at http://lal.cas.psu.edu/events/GISCamp2006.htm.

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EDITORS: For more information on course content, contact Stewart Bruce at 814-863-7609 or via e-mail at stew@psu.edu.

Writer-Editor: Gary Abdullah 814-863-2708 gxa2@psu.edu