Each July, State College and the Penn State University Park campus hosts thousands of visitors for the annual Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. The first day of the festival, known as "Children and Youth Day" (or "Arts Fest Kids Day"), celebrates the curiosity and creativity of kids.
For many years, the Penn State MRSEC has coordinated a large science outreach presence on Old Main Lawn. MRSEC booths are led by K-12 Outreach Team members. In the past, MRSEC graduate students have worked with undergraduates from the Interdisciplinary Materials & Physics REU program as well as high school students from the Upward Bound Math & Science Program (UBMS) to design, prepare, and present interactive science activities and demonstrations to ~1300 visitors. More recently, summer undergrads have also volunteered at Discovery Space summer science camps, and high school students have engaged with researchers in a more focused panel and networking session format, so Arts Fest Kids Day booths have been hosted by the K-12 Team in coordination with multiple student orgs and research lab groups who wish to engage youth.
The effort not only inspires smiles for science in front of the table, volunteers experience even greater impact behind the table. Benefits include a camaraderie, which provides support and encourages retention, and repeated opportunties to practice, model, and perfect effective science communication.