Field Trip Ideas
Advisors
DEP - Green Building Tour
Philipsburg, PA
The PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has recently constructed a new office, located in the Moshannon Valley Regional Business Park. The office was designed as a "green building". A wind turbine mounted atop a tower generates electrical energy which is stored in batteries for later use by lights and appliances in the office. The building incorporates recycled materials and is designed to be energy-efficient. We may be able to arrange a "green building tour" in which a DEP staff member would explain how the building's electrical system, wastewater system, and other systems work together to increase energy independence and minimize environmental impact.
National Soaring Museum - Sleeping with Sailplanes
Elmira, NY
Plan a fun and educational event for your Scouting, school, church or community youth group!
Soaring Encampments include...
- A tour of the museum
- Presentations on aeronautics and meteorology
- Aerogami - paper sailplane construction and flight testing
- Soaring history
- Build your own full-scale replica 1902 Wright Glider wing rib
- Cockpit orientation
- Computerized flight simulators
- Overnight stay at the Museum
- Morning meal
- Scouting groups can earn requirements toward completion of badges
Program Rates and Booking Information
The program cost is $25.00 per person. One adult must accompany every 10 campers; minimum group size is 15. Weekend dates are now available! Please call (607) 734-3128 to book this program.
The Aerospace Engineering program at Penn State runs a Sailplane Class which occasionally visits the National Soaring Museum in Elmira. For more information and photos, go to http://www.psu.edu/dept/aerospace/sailplane/fieldtrips.html.
Penn State - Engineering Project Showcase
University Park, PA
About 150 Penn State Engineering students display their class projects every semester at the Project Showcase event. The number of projects on display usually fills the HUB Ballroom. A Penn State professor who is involved with this event has indicated that we would be welcome to attend and interact with the students who have designed and constructed the projects.
Penn State - Envisioneer Group at Leonhard Center
University Park, PA
The Leonhard Center is a Penn State Engineering facility that provides teams of college students with opportunities to design and build working products to meet real-world needs. One such group, the Envisioneers, tackles a different project every year. They are currently working on a project they call the LoopFinder. It is a wireless system that will provide a real-time display of the locations of the Campus Loop buses at Penn State.
A Penn State professor who is involved with the Envisioneers has indicated that we might be able to visit the lab facilities at the Leonhard Center to observe and interact with college students who are working on the LoopFinder project.
Envisioneers: http://www.envisioneers.engr.psu.edu/
LoopFinder: http://www.envisioneers.engr.psu.edu/Loopfinder/info.htm
Penn State - Hybrid Electric Vehicle Lab
University Park, PA
The Pennsylvania Transportation Institute (PTI) is a Penn State research facility that is currently working on new ideas for hybrid electric vehicles. The professor who heads up this research has offered to arrange a lab tour for the West Branch Engineering Club.
Penn State - Nuclear Reactor
University Park, PA
West Branch Physics classes have previously toured Penn State's nuclear reactor.
Penn State - Spirit Rocket Project
University Park, PA
A team of undergraduate engineering students at Penn State are involved in a project in which they design "measurement packages" which they mount on rockets. The rockets are then shot into the middle atmosphere where they measure and record numerous characteristics. A Penn State professor who is involved with this group has indicated that we might be able to come to Penn State to observe and interact with this group of students as they work on their project.
Penn State - The Learning Factory
University Park, PA
The Learning Factory is the place where most Mechanical Engineering students do their projects as well as some students from other majors. John Lamancusa, the Director of the Learning Factory, coordinates the Project Showcase, which happens near the end of the Fall and Spring semesters.
It might be possible to visit The Learning Factory to observe and interact with engineering students as they work on their projects.
Shawville Power Station
Shawville, PA
West Branch Physics classes have toured the Shawville electric power generation facility in past years. It might be possible to arrange a tour for the Engineering Club.
