Posted: June 23, 2025
Camp connects teens with Penn State faculty and industry experts through labs and field trips
More than 140 youth from across Pennsylvania recently gathered at Penn State's University Park campus for 4-H Animal Science Camp, a multiday event focused on hands-on learning, academic exploration and career pathways in animal agriculture.
The camp, organized by Penn State Extension, brought together 149 youth from 40 counties, along with 13 screened 4-H volunteers. Participants, ages 13 to 18, selected from three educational tracks — dairy, equine, and livestock — and engaged in experiential learning guided by extension specialists and educators, College of Agricultural Sciences faculty and staff, and industry experts.
"The focus of the camp is to teach youth more about the science aspects of their 4-H animal science projects," said Kirsten Dubbs, 4-H animal science program specialist with Penn State Extension.
The camp included field trips, classroom workshops, and lab-based activities.
For the livestock track, one highlight was "Workshops on Wheels Day," which included visits to three facilities: Nicholas Meats, a meat processor in Loganton, Clinton County; Schrack Farms, a dairy and Extension partner farm, also in Clinton County; and Wenger Feeds, an animal feed manufacturer in Muncy, Lycoming County.
Participants in the dairy track took part in a workshop focused on artificial intelligence in dairy production. Other workshops included tours of state-of-the-art farms, such as Dotterer Dairy in Clinton County, a Land O'Lakes dairy farm that also does agritourism.
Meanwhile, livestock students investigated the small ruminant gastrointestinal system through guided dissection of a goat GI tract to learn about anatomy.
In the equine track, youth studied horse biomechanics through the dissection of lower leg structures. The activity provided insight into limb function.
Another workshop for the livestock group centered on agricultural advocacy and research. Youth completed mini research projects and participated in debates on timely issues such as animal rights versus animal welfare and environmental concerns connected to public perception of animal agriculture.
"We always try to make our workshops as hands-on as possible," Dubbs said. "We use as little lecture format as we can and immerse youth in labs, barns, working with live animals, doing lab work, dissections, and so on."
The camp also offered students a chance to experience campus life. Youth stayed in dormitories, ate in dining commons, and toured campus facilities to get a sense of what attending college might be like.
A central component of the camp is its collaboration with Penn State's Department of Animal Science.
"We use faculty as presenters, so youth get a good look at what coursework and especially labs might look like if they came to the College of Agricultural Sciences to major or minor in animal science," Dubbs said. "We encourage faculty to recycle pieces from their undergraduate courses and labs for these workshops."
Participants also explore career options in agriculture and animal science. They learn about topics such as the vet school track. Many youth express interest in becoming veterinarians, and the camp allows them to explore that and other career paths.
"Every year, 4-H families reach out and say, 'My teen applied to Penn State, was accepted and is attending the College of Ag Sciences directly as a result of Animal Science Camp.'" Dubbs said. "Faculty also tell me they see first-year students in their classes who attribute their decision to attend Penn State to their experience at the camp."
Dubbs noted that workshop topics change every year, so youth can attend multiple times and continue to gain useful knowledge and skills.
She shared the story of one participant from Lycoming County, who had attended the camp's dairy track for several years. He now is a dairy science major at another institution.
"His dad told me, 'I never expected him to go to college at all. I never thought this would be his path. But he said the Animal Science Camp is the reason he chose it,'" Dubbs said.
The camp reflects 4-H's broader mission to develop life skills and prepare youth for adulthood.
"The 4-H program is about taking whatever youth are interested in and teaching quality, science-based, university-developed information about that topic," Dubbs said. "At the same time, we're building life skills. When youth graduate from the program at 18 or 19, we want them to be confident, capable speakers; comfortable in community and civic settings; able to keep records, set goals, break them into manageable steps, track progress, and evaluate outcomes."
She added, "These are skills that will serve them well as they transition to the world of work, higher education, or wherever they're headed."
The camp also offers opportunities for screened 4-H volunteers to serve as chaperones. Dubbs noted that these volunteers can attend the workshops with the youth and gain valuable information to share with their local 4-H clubs or incorporate into their own work with animals.
Several agricultural partners supported the camp, including the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, and Pennsylvania Livestock Association.
Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a nonformal educational youth-development program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that helps young people develop knowledge and skills to become capable, caring and contributing citizens. To find your local program, visit the Penn State Extension 4-H website.
