Kids' College

Budding Botanists (3-Day Camp) 

Children attending this camp will learn about the lifecycle of a plant, the many different types of plants that live around the world and why they are important. 

• Dates: Monday, June 10 - Wednesday, June 12
• Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
• Location: Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA 
• Program Fee: $120 
• Registration Deadline: June 5
• Register Here

"Ology" Camp: Criminology (C.S.I.) (2-Day Camp) 

If you want to explore the world of Criminology this camp is for you. Each day we will use the skills needed for crime scene investigation (inquiry, earth, life, and physical sciences). 

• Dates: Thursday, June 13 - Friday, June 14 
• Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
• Location: Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA 
• Program Fee: $80 
• Registration Deadline: June 7
• Register Here

“Ology” Camp: Geology (3-Day Camp) 

Did you ever want to dig deeper into the world of Geology? If so, this camp is for you. Each day we will explore a different area of Geology: 

1) The Earth Beneath our Feet 

2) Rocks and Minerals, and other Natural Treasures 

3) Fossils: Records of Prehistoric Life on Earth 

• Dates: Monday, June 17 - Wednesday, June 19 
• Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
• Location: Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA 
• Program Fee: $120 
• Registration Deadline: June 12
• Register Here

Investigating What Engineers Do (2-Day Camp)

This camp provides students with the opportunity to find out what engineers in different branches of engineering do. 

• Dates: Monday, July 1 - Tuesday, July 2 
• Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
• Location: Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA 
• Program Fee: $80 
• Registration Deadline: June 26
• Register Here

"Ology" Camp: Zoology (3-Day Camp) 

If you want to learn more about vertebrates this camp is for you. Each day we will explore the lives of mammals and reptiles and learn how they fit in the natural world. 

• Dates: Monday, July 15 - Wednesday, July 17 
• Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
• Location: Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA 
• Program Fee: $120 
• Registration Deadline: July 10
• Register Here

Creepy Crawlies (2-Day Camp) 

Campers will investigate the creepy crawlies around us, spanning from beetles to earthworms to salamanders to crayfish. We will use the scientific method to investigate the creatures' world. 

• Dates: Thursday, July 18 - Friday, July 19 
• Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
• Location: Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA 
• Program Fee: $80 
• Registration Deadline: July 15
• Register Here

CSI Loretto (3-Day Camp) 

CSI and other television shows have made forensics a very popular word in the American vocabulary. In this camp, kids conduct experiments based on some forensics procedures to solve simulated crimes. 

• Dates: Monday, June 10 - Wednesday, June 12 
• Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
• Location: Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA 
• Program Fee: $120 
• Registration Deadline: June 7
• Register Here

Fun with Physics (2-Day Camp) 

Learn about one of the major branches of science: physics. Conduct hands-on activities to explore why gravity pulls on objects and why some objects sink while others float. Discover how heating food in a microwave oven and using a remote control to turn on a television are made possible through electromagnetic waves. 

• Dates: Thursday, June 13 - Friday, June 14 
• Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
• Location: Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA 
• Program Fee: $80 
• Registration Deadline: June 7
• Register Here

Energy Explorers (3-Day Camp) 

Children in this camp will explore the many ways in which energy impacts their daily lives, from the food they eat to the electricity used to light their homes and the fuels used to move from place to place. Hands-on activities and experiments will illustrate the amazing world of energy. 

• Dates: Monday, June 17 - Wednesday, June 19 
• Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
• Location: Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA 
• Program Fee: $120 
• Registration Deadline: June 12
• Register Here

Rube’s Not So Simple Machines (4-Day Camp) 

Bring your creativity and crazy ideas to this four-day camp! Explore the physics of simple machines, then work as a team to solve a problem and combine these tools into an inventive Rube Goldberg machine! 

• Dates: Monday, July 15 – Thursday, July 18 
• Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
• Location: Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA 
• Program Fee: $160 
• Registration Deadline: July 10
• Register Here

Lake Saint Francis Investigation (2-Day Camp) 

We will take a deep dive--not literally--into Lake St. Francis. Using microscopes we will look at the smallest creatures in the pond, then focus on larger creatures lurking in the darkness. Campers will measure water quality, depth, organism population, water clarity, and much more. We will be outside a lot-rain or shine, be ready to learn in the rain. Please wear a hat, old clothes and old shoes that can get wet (NOT CROCKS), also please apply insect/tick repellent and sunscreen prior to camp. 

• Dates: Thursday, June 13 - Friday, June 14 
• Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
• Location: Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA 
• Program Fee: $80 
• Registration Deadline: June 10
• Register Here

Our Microscopic World (3-Day Camp)

Campers will be using microscopes to look at life in a drop of pond water. We will also dissect crayfish and a perch; and will make slides of the dissection specimens to look closer at the cellular systems under the microscopes. This camp will take place in the Innovation Lab at the Curry Innovation Center in downtown Altoona, PA. 

• Dates: Monday, June 24 - Wednesday, June 26 
• Time: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 
• Location: Curry Innovation Center, Altoona, PA 
• Program Fee: $120 (including lab fee) 
• Registration Deadline: June 19
• Register Here

Gaming Odyssey (3-Day Camp) 

Attention, future game designers and developers in grades 7-9! This summer, get ready to unleash your creativity and dive into the thrilling world of Game Design and Development. 

Discover the secrets behind what makes our favorite games so captivating. From concept to creation, you'll delve into the magic that turns a simple idea into an immersive gaming experience. 

Dive into the hands-on experience of crafting your very own original board game with your own personalized game tokens that you will design and 3-D print. 

Immerse yourself in the world of digital game development using GDevelop. We'll guide you through the creation and development of your very own platformer video game, from stages to sprites. 

• Dates: Monday, July 15 - Wednesday, July 17 
• Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
• Location: Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA 
• Program Fee: $120 
• Registration Deadline: July 10
• Register Here

Registration usually opens in late winter or early spring. Register to receive email updates.

Registration closes three business days before the scheduled camp, or when all available spaces are filled, whichever comes first.

Sign up for email updates!

Registration is available through SFU’s online event website.

To register:

1. STEP 1:  From this page click the camp you would like to register for (or find it at https://events.francis.edu/). Click the “Buy Tickets” button. Select the number of seats you would like to reserve. Enter a ‘promo’ code, if applicable. If paying by check, enter ‘paybycheck’ in the promo code field. Complete the required fields and click to submit payment. Once submitted, you should receive an email confirming your spot. Go to step 2.
2. STEP 2:  Complete the Medical and Emergency Contact Form. All required fields must be completed and payment received before registration is considered official. Incomplete forms will result in the participant being placed on a waiting list. If you do not complete the form in a timely manner, your spot may be forfeited.
3. Optional: Complete the health forms for your child to be seen at UPMC, MyHealth Saint Francis on campus in the event of a minor injury or illness. For more information, see “What if my child needs medical attention during camp?”
4. If applicable: Mail completed health forms and/or check to

Kids’ College STEAM Summer Camps 
SFU Science Outreach Center
P.O. Box 600 
Loretto, PA 15940

*Please note:

• There is no cart function. If you would like to register for more than one camp, you must do so for each camp separately. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
• The Medical and Emergency Contact Form only needs to be completed once per camper, even if participating in multiple camps.
• You may create a user account with the registration system, but this is not required. 
• Email updates will come from scienceoutreach@francis.edu. We will send details approximately 2 weeks before camp and a reminder approximately 1 week before camp. You may receive additional automated notifications from the online event registration system.

Credit Card: Please note, there is a processing fee for this credit card service. 

Check: If you wish to pay by check you must enter the PROMO CODE: paybycheck at checkout.

Please make checks payable to Saint Francis University. If you have a PROMO CODE, please deduct its value from the payment. Please mail a printout of your registration confirmation and check to: 

Kids’ College STEAM Summer Camps 
SFU Science Outreach Center 
P.O. Box 600 
Loretto, PA 15940

Thanks to the generous support of the A.J. and Sigismunda Palumbo Charitable Trust, several financial assistance awards will be made available to need-based campers to cover the cost of registration in a Kids' College STEAM Summer Camp at Saint Francis University, in 2024. To be considered for financial assistance, please complete the financial assistance application form.

Applications will be reviewed on a ruling basis beginning April 1st and will continue until all funds have been allocated. If you receive an award, you will be contacted by email. We will try to inform awardees at least 3 weeks before the beginning of their selected camp. Unfortunately, not all applicants may be awarded assistance, depending on the number of requests received. Assistance not claimed within 2 weeks of the award may be forfeited and provided to another eligible recipient. Maximum of one award per camper.

The financial assistance form can be found here.

Once all spaces are filled for a camp, additional parties may join the wait list. If a cancelation occurs and a space opens, the space will be offered to the first person on the wait list. If there is demand for a program, additional spaces may be opened, but only if adequate staffing is available to ensure a quality program.

Camps are held on the campus of Saint Francis University in Loretto, PA, unless otherwise noted. The specific drop off and pick up locations will be communicated for each individual camp.

• Brown Bag Lunch
• Water Bottle
• Jacket or Sweater
• Sunscreen (apply in morning, can bring, but staff do not apply)
• Bug Spray

Please pack a lunch for your child. We encourage you to pack a peanut and nut-free meal.* We have refrigeration, if needed. A vending machine is not readily accessible. Snacks will be provided (common examples: fruit, crackers, cereal). Juice is offered each afternoon. A water refill station is available. Classrooms may be air conditioned, so a jacket or sweater is recommended. All camp materials will be provided, unless otherwise specified in the description or by the instructor. PLEASE LABEL YOUR CHILD’S ITEMS with their first and last name, including clothing, lunch boxes and water bottles. We are not responsible for any loss or damage to personal items. Unclaimed lost and found items will be donated to a local charity at the conclusion of the camp season.

*Please note that the campus is not a peanut or nut-free zone, and other allergens may also be present.

The schedule will vary from camp to camp depending on the activities, camper’s ages, weather, and other factors. The day is structured to include both educational learning periods and less formal break periods (lunch, snack, recess, or other unstructured time where kids can be kids).

An example full-day schedule is below. Additional breaks will be added when/where needed.

9:00 am – Activity 
10:30 am – Break/Recess 
10:55 am – Snack 
11:10 am – Activity 
11:45 am – Lunch 
12:30 pm – Activity 
2:15 pm – Break/Recess 
2:45 pm – Snack 
2:55 pm – Activity 
4:00 pm – Dismissal

Check-in begins at 8:45 a.m. and runs until 9:00 a.m. Check-out is at 4:00 p.m. (unless otherwise specified).  All children must be signed in and out by an approved adult.

List all allergies on the Medical and Emergency Contact form. Please remind the instructor upon arrival. 

SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY will not dispense over the counter (OTC) or prescription medication to any participant.

Minor injuries requiring an ice pack or bandage will be treated by STEAM camp staff. 

For other issues occurring on the Loretto campus, the camper may be accompanied to UPMC, MyHealth Saint Francis, clinic located onsite, if paperwork has been completed (*see below). MyHealth Saint Francis, located inside the DiSepio Institute for Rural Health and Wellness, provides care and treatment for sudden, short-term illness and injuries. 

If the UPMC forms have not been completed, the camp is being held away from the Loretto campus, or in the event of an emergency or life-threatening event, staff will take whatever actions that are deemed appropriate regarding camper health and safety. This includes calling 911 for potential transportation to a hospital or other health care facility if that is deemed medically necessary. Parent/guardians will be contacted as soon as possible. 

Medical information will be held confidentially and only shared with camp staff for the specific camp the child is participating in. 

Please refer to the policy section regarding sickness.

*Details about MyHealth Saint Francis Clinic

We are happy to offer your child the services of UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh through the MyHealth Saint Francis clinic while they are attending camp here at Saint Francis University.

The scope of these services includes treatment for minor illness and injury. During a visit, the MyHealth Saint Francis team will utilize telehealth services to connect with a provider from the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. The team will ensure you as the parent/guardian are included in these visits. Use of the clinic for these services is optional. If you would like to have these services available for your child, should they need them, please complete the medical documents you have been provided.

https://www.francis.edu/sites/default/files/Kids%20College%20STEAM%20Summer%20Camps/UPMC-MyHealth-Saint-Francis-Patient-Registration-Forms.pdf 

Once you have completed the required medical documents, please use the following link to a secure website operated by our university partner where you will need to upload the completed forms.

 https://transfer.collegiseducation.com/filedrop/studenthealth@francis.edu

If you have any questions, please contact MyHealth Saint Francis at 814-472-3008.

Unused medical forms will be shredded/deleted by UPMC at the end of the summer.

Topics are usually selected by the instructors because of their passion for the topic. In other cases, the topic has been identified by prospective campers as being of interest. Have an idea for a camp? Let us know.

Please contact the STEAM Summer Camps director, Michael Sell, at 814-472-2872 or email scienceoutreach@francis.edu.

Campers are guests of Saint Francis University and are responsible for following all rules and regulations established by the camp program and Saint Francis University to ensure safety. Campers are expected to conduct themselves in a well-behaved manner at all times.

Campers must:

• Show respect to other children and staff. No insults, teasing, threats, or bullying.
• Use appropriate language at all times.
• Listen quietly while other children or staff are talking.
• Respect individual space. Keep your hands, feet, and body to yourself.
• Clean up after yourself, including lunch, snacks, and activity and play materials.
• Stay with your group in designated areas at all times, unless otherwise given permission by camp staff.
• Respect Saint Francis University property as well as the belongings of other children and university staff.

This list of rules and regulations is not all-inclusive. All behaviors which are not in agreement with the expressed mission and purpose of the STEAM summer camps and Saint Francis University are subject to reprimand. Ongoing behavior problems will lead to dismissal from the camp.

Campers should talk to a summer camp instructor or assistant if they feel uncomfortable with any experiences or need assistance while at camp. Camp instructors try their best to supervise campers but may not see every incident. Please communicate any concerns you have with camp staff immediately so that they can be addressed.

Disciplinary Process

When a child does not follow the expected behaviors, the following steps will be taken:

Step 1) First Incident – Verbal warming – Staff members will first try to understand the situation and collect all possible information about the situation, including the child’s motives and intentions. Staff will discuss the issue with the child to explain what he or she did was wrong, why it was wrong, and encourage a more appropriate behavior.

Step 2) Second Incident – Mild punishment (time-out) – camper will be removed from activity to consider actions. Parents will be notified of this at the end of the day.

Step 3) Third Incident – Mild punishment (time-out) – camper will be removed from activity to consider actions. Parents will be notified of this at the end of the day.

Step 4) Fourth Incident – Expulsion – camper will be removed from activity and their parents will be notified to come pick up their child. Camp fees are non-refundable if a camper is sent home for behavioral reasons. The opportunity to participate in future camps will be forfeited.

*The discipline process can be accelerated by camp staff for serious offenses, including physical violence or bullying. Incidents do not need to be of the same type in order to progress through the steps (i.e. swearing could be a first incident, followed by hitting as a second incident).

An Incident Report will be completed by the staff member involved in each incident and kept on file. Our staff aims to treat campers and their families with respect, and we expect children and their families to do the same in return.

Registration may be cancelled up to two weeks (14 calendar days) prior to the start day of the selected camp for a full refund. Cancellations closer than 14 calendar days to the start of camp may be granted in some circumstances for medical or emergency reasons only, unless the spot can be filled from the wait list. Please contact camp staff to discuss your situation.

There is no credit or refund for missed days or partial days. If a camper misses a day, they are still eligible to participate in any remaining days of camp. Instructors will do their best to update participants on any missed activities.

If you know that your child will be unable to attend a camp, please let us know as soon as possible, so that we can offer the opportunity to another child who may be on the wait list.

We reserve the right to cancel a camp due to insufficient registrations. If a camp is canceled, you will receive notification no less than 10 business days before the start of the camp. A full refund will be issued.

In the event of extenuating circumstances, the camp schedule may be adjusted or canceled. Any changes to the camp schedule will be communicated with parents/guardians in as timely a manner as possible.

If a child is not feeling well, particularly if they have or are suspected of having a communicable disease, please keep them at home. This allows the child to rest and recuperate and protects other camp children and staff from being exposed to the illness. Children who are not feeling well will have difficulty participating in our activity-filled camps.

Children should be symptom-free for 24 hours prior to attending camp. Example symptoms may include (but are not limited to):

• Fever (temperature above 100 degrees Fahrenheit)
• vomiting (caused by illness)
• diarrhea
• very runny nose, sore throat, or frequent cough
• strep throat
• rash
• persistent pain

*A camper who has had or is suspected of having COVID-19 within the past five days is not allowed to attend, even if they are symptom-free.

Any siblings who have been around the ill child should also not attend.

A camper who becomes ill during the course of the camp day will be evaluated by camp staff. The parent/guardian may be called and asked to pick up their child immediately.

Also see our What if my child needs medical attention during camp? question in the FAQs.

Please call or email if your child is not coming.

I hereby acknowledge that I have voluntarily chosen to participate in the following activity(ies) on the premises and/or facilities of SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY, including but not limited to those indicated on this SFU Kids’ College STEAM Summer Camps Medical and Emergency Contact Form.

I understand the risks involved in “the activity”. I recognize that “the activity” involves risk of injury and I agree to accept any and all risks associated with it, including but not limited to property damage or loss, minor bodily injury, severe bodily injury, and death. I am voluntarily participating in “the activity” with the knowledge of the risks involved and hereby agree to accept any and all inherent risks of property damage, bodily injury, or death.

In consideration for the University’s permission to participate in “the activity”, to the fullest extent permitted by law, I agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY, its officers, directors, employees, agents, volunteers and assigns from and against all claims arising out of or resulting from my use of the facilities. “Claim” as used in this agreement means any financial loss, claim, suit, action, damage, or expense, including but not limited to attorney’s fees, attributable to bodily injury, sickness, disease or death, or injury to or destruction of tangible property including loss of use resulting therefrom. In addition, I hereby voluntarily hold harmless SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY, its officers, directors, employees, agents, volunteers and assigns from all claims, both present and future, that may be made by me, my family, estate, heirs, or assigns.

I also understand that SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY does not provide any medical or dental insurance to cover bodily injury, illness or death, or insurance for personal property damage or loss, or insurance for liability arising out of my negligent acts or omissions; and I acknowledge that I am completely responsible for my own insurance to cover these expenses. I authorize SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY, its officers, directors, employees, agents, volunteers and assigns to take whatever actions that are deemed appropriate regarding my health and safety in the event of an emergency or life-threatening event. This includes placing me at my own expense into a hospital or other health care facility if that is deemed medically necessary. SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY will not dispense over the counter (OTC) or prescription medication to any participant.

I further understand that this acknowledgment of risk and hold harmless is intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted by the laws of the State of Pennsylvania and that if any portion hereof is held invalid, I agree that the balance shall, notwithstanding, continue in full legal force and effect.

I attest that I am physically fit to participate in physical activities and that my medical condition to do so has been verified by a licensed physician.

I have read the conditions in the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK AND HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT and accept them as shown by my signature (TYPE BELOW), and my intent to be legally bound. The undersigned asserts that participant is younger than (18) years of age and the guardians signature approves the activities for this minor.

I understand and agree to follow all rules of conduct, safety rules, and time limits imposed by SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY its officers, directors, employees, agents, volunteers, and assigns. I understand and agree that, if rules and time limits imposed by SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY are not followed, that SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY may revoke its permission to conduct “the activity”. Participants are expected to be courteous to one another and all staff members. Disruptive behavior or behavioral problems will not be tolerated and will be brought to the attention of the parent/guardian in which disruptive actions may forfeit activity privileges.

I have reviewed and accept the BEHAVIOR POLICY, CANCELLATION/REFUND POLICY, and SICKNESS POLICY listed on the STEAM summer camps webpage found at: https://www.francis.edu/summer-science-youth-camps.

I will drop my child off and pick my child up according to the instructions provided by the camp overseer.

I have read the conditions in the POLICIES AND CAMP INSTRUCTIONS and accept them as shown by my signature (TYPE BELOW), and my intent to be legally bound.

By signing below, I/we authorize SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY personnel to photograph, videotape, and/or audiotape my/our child in promotion of SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY programs. I understand that all such reproductions and statements are and shall remain the property of SAINT FRANCIS UNIVERSITY.

I have read the MEDIA PHOTO VIDEO CONSENT AND RELEASE conditions and accept them as shown by my signature (TYPE BELOW), and my intent to be legally bound.