Community Hero Initiative Program (CHIP)

Community Hero Initiative Program

Are you a student hoping to make a difference in this world? If so, we are looking for Centre County youth between the ages of 15 and 16 that are eager to learn about ways to improve the four dimensions of one’s personal health and wellbeing. These dimensions include- social, physical, nutritional, and emotional health.

July 13-16, 2026, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. 
Rising 10th and 11th graders
$200 (lunch included)

This 4-day summer camp is a way to learn, create, reflect, and instill an understanding of how to better serve our small towns and rural communities in Central Pennsylvania with impactful purpose and solidarity. Campers will be given the opportunity to practice mindful activities, participate in fitness testing, tour a local Centre County farm that provides food security throughout the central region, engage in creative group survivorship activities, tour a Penn State athletic stadium and many more enriching experiences!

Schedule of the Week

Day 1: Social Health

Campers will engage in social group activities that stimulate conversions about how to improve social health. A tour of a Penn State Athletic field/stadium will be provided. A quick stop at the Penn State Creamery will be the highlight of the day!

Day 2: Physical Health

Campers will tour the Penn State Centre for Fitness and Wellness (CFW) facility in the IM Building on campus along with interactive discussion and assessment of non-invasive fitness testing guided under the direction of CFW Director, Jennifer Niessner. After lunch, students will participate in a mindful Yoga session.

Day 3: Nutritional Health

Campers will experience a fun-filled field interactive field trip to Centre County “The Farm” in West Decatur, PA (less than 30 miles from the Penn State campus). All campers will be transported to this field trip leaving from Rec Hall on the Penn State campus. Activities will induce but not be limited to the following: a farm tour; discussion with Centre County YMCA Director Mel Curtis on food insecurities; learn how to grow a garden; lunch on the farm and much more!

Day 4: Emotional Health

Campers will participate in creative group activities to decipher the value of everyday household items that can improve one’s emotional health and survivorship. Students will tour the Housing Transitions of Centre County (in State College, PA) and learn the emotional health benefits of sheltered living. Campers will have the opportunity to learn how to become an “official” Penn State CHAMP (Community Hero Ambassador Master Participant) and represent their school and local town with community pride and outreach!

Sample Daily Schedule

• 8:45 AM – 9:00 AM: Arrive at Rec Hall red brick parking lot (near the front of Rec Hall gymnasium side)
• 9:05 AM – 9:30 AM: Interactive group discussion of daily health dimension topic
• 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM: CFW tour and fitness assessments
• 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM: Group Lunch
• 12:20 PM – 2:00 PM: Yoga session followed by a refreshing stop at the Penn State Creamery for ice cream.
• 2:00 PM: Camp Ends / Parents pick-up

Instructors

• Lori Gravish Hurtack, Camp Director
• Jonna Belanger
• Danielle Butterworth
• Travis Ritter
• Nathan Zechman

Youth Program Compliance

Title IX Information for Parents and Guardians.  All Penn State youth programs have policies in place to ensure the safety of youth participating in our programs, activities and services is not compromised.  All program staff are trained in emergency protocols and all relevant internal, external, and parental reporting requirements.

Refunds

If your request to withdraw is received at least 15 business days prior to the first day of the program, we can issue a partial refund. Send your written request by email to psuconferences@psu.edu or by fax to 814-863-5190. A $50 administrative fee will be charged for each withdrawal.

Contact Us

Programming questions can be addressed to: Camp Director, Lori Gravish Hurtack at lag138@psu.edu 

Registration questions can be addressed to: Dan Batcho, dub136@psu.edu.  

Physical or Dietary Accommodations

Please contact Dan Batcho, dub136@psu.edu 4 weeks prior to program start date with any concerns or requests. 

Confidentiality

For legal reasons, the University cannot release the names or phone numbers of other participants, not even to those who want to carpool.

COVID-19 Update

All HHD youth camps will follow all University COVID-19 guidelines that are in place at the time of camp. You can learn about Penn State’s current COVID response and view up-to-date policies and frequently asked questions on the Coronavirus Information site. Anyone who registers before the guidelines are announced will have the option to cancel their registration with no penalty if they choose. For more information, read the COVID-19 Guidelines for Residential Camps PDF.