Summer Camps
Explore your interests through one of our hands-on camps conducted each summer for high school students taught by Bellisario College faculty members.
About the Camps
The Bellisario College of Communications offers high school students a chance to explore opportunities in the exciting world of communications and media. These fully immersive camps offer students the chance to live on campus, work in the state-of-the-art Bellisario Media Center and build a network of peers that is aligned with their interests.
Campers can choose from four options, with details about the camps lower on this page.
Summer 2026
July 5-10, 2026
Eligibility Requirements
- Campers must be between the ages of 14 and 18 as of July 1, 2026.
- Interest in the communications field.
Apply for Camp
Fill out and submit your application using the highlighted link above. The application IS TO BE COMPLETED BY BOTH THE PARENT AND THE CAMPER. The camper MUST complete the essay portion of the application.
No payment is required at the time of application. Once your application is reviewed and you receive your acceptance letter, additional registration and full payment is required.
- Early Registration: $1,500
Deadline: April 30, 2026 - Regular Registration: $1,700
Deadline: May 31, 2026
Any questions may be directed to BellisarioSummerCamps@psu.edu
Broadcast Journalism Camp
Penn State's state-of-the-art television studio provides a home for those who choose this option. Campers will work in the same newsroom and studio used by award-winning Penn State students as they learn about TV news and sports productions. It's an opportunity to explore essential broadcast journalism skills, news gathering techniques, storytelling and more.
The sessions allow campers to produce their own news or sports video story from start to finish. Students will have an opportunity to record their video and interviews, as well as write and edit their story.
Campers will also gain insight into other areas of TV news/sports from experienced professionals who have worked in the industry for years. Along with faculty, students in the broadcast journalism major at Penn State will serve as counselors, providing an additional resource for those interested in the field. This camp is a good option for students considering a career in either on-air or off-air television news and sports (including reporting, anchoring, producing and videography).
Instructors
Steve Kraycik
- Associate Teaching Professor, Director of Student Television
About Broadcast Journalism Camp
Film Production Camp
Are you creative? Are you motivated? Are you interested in making movies?
If so, plan to attend the Penn State Camp for Filmmakers! This camp offers you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in film and video production. During the week on campus, campers will plan, shoot and screen three separate projects.
Along with that will come discussion and practice in shot grammar and story construction as well as hands-on camera training.
Campers will have the opportunity to:
- pitch story ideas;
- work with a small team to produce videos;
- learn to be a writer, director, actor, cinematographer, and/or editor; and
- learn the basic techniques necessary to bring their creative vision to the screen.
The session led by industry professionals and experienced Penn State faculty includes a focus on lighting and scripting. Campers also get the chance to work in state-of-the-art facilities on campus, including the dedicated film shooting space in the Bellisario College and the green screen
Instructors
About Film Production Camp
Podcasting Camp
Do you have a story to tell? Do you love listening to podcasts?
At Podcasting Camp, campers will learn how to turn creative ideas into captivating audio stories. From narrative and interview-based podcasts to investigative, community or sports reporting, campers will explore how creators use sound to connect with listeners and express their unique voices. Throughout the week, campers will gain hands-on experience producing sound-rich audio content and create your own podcast episode featuring stories from the campus, community, local sports, or arts scene.
Campers will:
- Discover what makes a podcast successful.
- Pitch and refine a podcast concept.
- Collaborate in teams to produce and edit an episode.
- Practice interviewing, sound gathering, and audio editing skills.
- Learn to capture and hold an audience’s attention.
By the end of the week, campers will understand how to hook an audience, craft an engaging narrative and produce professional-quality audio features. They'll also get guidance from Penn State broadcast journalism faculty and students, who will share advice for those interested in the field.
Instructor
Social Media and Content Creator Camp
Do you always know what’s trending? Like making social media content instead of merely consuming it? Dream of being a YouTuber or TikToker? The world of content creators is swirling with creativity, excitement and mystery. These storytellers have drastically changed how people seek entertainment, follow news, find community and educate themselves as shoppers. Opportunities abound for the curious, driven and creative in these connected times.
This camp focuses on getting the most out of social media for personal and professional purposes as well as seeing beyond the glamour of an influencer life. Campers will learn:
- How social media can help launch their careers as creators and help brands engage with their audiences.
- How to produce compelling photos and videos.
- How to find the right platform and audience for their own content ideas.
Campers will learn from instructors and counselors who launched their own digital projects and can break down the basics. This camp introduces students to the practical, professional side of social media. Throughout the week, campers will get hands-on experience, creating content at events on campus and in the community. By the end, campers will recognize the opportunities and meet the challenges posed by social media – they’ll be ready to flourish in this digital age.
Instructors
About Social Media Camp
Visual Storytelling Summer Camp
In this camp, campers explore extraordinary local stories by forming connections with the quiet lives of real people. During the week on and around campus, we will work to create beautifully photographed, memorable visual stories that center around empathy, an ability to make human connections and, most importantly, allow students to develop personal vision and critical thinking skills.
Visual storytelling is a craft, and a calling, that will continue to be a marketable skill into the future in a broad variety of fields and industries. Students will leave camp with a story they produced, and human connections they are proud of.
Practical skills and story process are taught in a hands-on workshop setting. During the sessions, we work on specific elements of craft; including camera basics, lighting, approaches to documentary production, and building relationships as trusted storytellers.
Campers approach visual storytelling as community-building, public-service journalism by documenting local communities in and around State College. It is an opportunity to take advantage of big school resources to produce small town stories in sessions led by prize-winning industry professionals and experienced Penn State faculty.
By the end of the week, campers will:
- Produce a visual project in ways that build trust in media
- Use professional cameras and other tools to gather still images, video, audio and text, edit them and present compelling stories online
- Evaluate their own work and work of the peers and provide feedback
- Build connections with sources, mentors and peers and develop empathy during the storytelling process.
Instructors
About Visual Storytelling Camp
Penn State is committed to equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment for all persons. It is the policy of the University to maintain an environment free of harassment and free of discrimination against any person because of their actual or perceived age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information or political ideas. Discriminatory conduct and harassment violate the dignity of individuals, impedes the realization of the University’s educational mission, and will not be tolerated. This access is extended to all university-sponsored youth programs, including 4-H.
The needs of any participant in a youth program will be discussed privately with that child’s parent/legal guardian on a case-by-case basis with the goal of promoting a safe environment and quality experience. If you have any questions, please contact the program manager, Katy Colby (krc178@psu.edu).
(Updated Dec. 11, 2024)
