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Penn State summer camp to welcome weather enthusiasts for 15th year

Penn State weather camps are one of several summer opportunities available through Penn State Outreach youth programs.  Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn StateCreative Commons

For the past 14 years, Penn State’s weather camps have welcomed students to the University Park campus who were looking for a hands-on experience in weather forecasting.

Now entering the 15th year, the Penn State Weather Camp and Advanced Weather Camp will be held June 14-19 and June 21-26, respectively, for students entering grades 8-12. Bill Syrett, who helped start the camps and serves as a senior lecturer in the department of meteorology, said the camps’ missions are the same now as they were 15 years ago.

“We want to bring together young weather enthusiasts who share common interests and also show campers what it takes to earn a Penn State meteorology degree,” said Syrett.

Campers will read and analyze weather charts, use forecast models to make predictions and present their own TV weathercast. Students will also visit the local National Weather Service office and AccuWeather headquarters, both of which are located in State College.

Although the basics of weather forecasting have remained the same since the early 2000s, Syrett notes that technological improvements in computing and instrumentation have vastly improved accuracy. As a result, the forecaster’s role has shifted substantially from creating the forecast to finding the best way to properly communicate the computer-generated forecast for public consumption.

The weather camps are one of several summer opportunities available through Penn State Outreach youth programs. Additional camps include the Architecture/Landscape Architecture Camp (July 12-16), Communications Camp (July 12-17) and Honors Music Camp (July 12-18).

For all Penn State youth programs, campers reside in campus residence halls and receive instruction from Penn State faculty and graduate students and leaders in the field. More information on Penn State youth programs is available by clicking here

Last Updated June 1, 2015

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