UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State has updated its policies governing youth programs, part of a continuing effort to strengthen protections for the thousands of children and teens the University serves each year through camps, clinics and other educational activities.
These young people come to Penn State’s campuses to participate in programs that offer opportunities for pre-college students to explore their interests, try something new, build skills and experience campus life in a structured, supportive and safe environment.
Year-round programming — not just summer
Youth programs ramp up each June, when summer offerings begin in full force across the commonwealth. However, the University offers youth programming year-round, said Sandy Weaver, associate director of compliance and director of youth protection in Penn State's Office of Ethics and Compliance.
“This policy work comes as Penn State prepares for its busiest youth programming season, with 377 programs serving more than 30,000 participants this summer,” Weaver said. “Although many think of youth programming as only summer camps, there are more than 600 youth programs held throughout the calendar year. Our office is open and available year-round as a resource to those who are offering youth programs.”
Higher education best practices
According to Weaver, the policy changes followed a comprehensive review completed in fall 2025 through Penn State’s participation in the United Educators Risk Management Program. The review focused on youth protection for minors and other nonmatriculated young people participating in University programs and examined whether existing policies, procedures and training reflected current legal standards and higher education best practices.
Led by the University’s Youth Program Compliance Unit and the Office of Risk Management, the initiative used Six Sigma methodologies to assess existing policies, standard operating procedures and training programs regarding youth safety. A multidisciplinary team reviewed Penn State policies, including AD72: Reporting Suspected Child Abuse; and HR99: Background Verification Requirements. The team also benchmarked Penn State’s approach against national standards and guidance from United Educators and the Higher Education Protection Network.
The review led to policy and procedural updates intended to improve clarity, accessibility and effectiveness. It also identified opportunities to strengthen education and training, including targeted materials for dual-enrolled students and annual conferences for youth program directors, and to improve case management and performance review systems that support accountability and continuous improvement.
Among the most significant changes was an update to Policy AD72, Reporting Suspected Child Abuse, which clarifies guidance for University employees, volunteers and independent contractors across Penn State locations regarding mandated reporting requirements under Pennsylvania law and University policy.
Supporting youth program compliance across the University
In 2025 alone, Penn State served 237,782 children through youth programs, activities and services across its campuses and 4-H initiatives.
“That scale, combined with a long-running compliance infrastructure, broad institutional cooperation, and continuous systems and policies improvement, has helped to make Penn State a national leader in youth protection in higher education,” Weaver said.
Penn State established its Youth Program Compliance Unit in 2013 to coordinate youth protection efforts across the institution. The unit supports faculty, staff and volunteers by helping to develop tools for youth programs, reviewing policies, communicating updates, and providing training on best practices, University requirements and applicable laws. Penn State’s standards for youth programming include central registration and oversight, required background checks and clearances for adults who work with participants, and annual training on child abuse reporting.
The Youth Program Compliance Unit works with its partners to maintain high standards of protection and accountability, Weaver said, including the offices of Risk Management, Human Resources, Title IX, University Police and Public Safety, Student Conduct, Health Services, General Counsel, Procurement and Student Affairs.
“The Youth Programs Compliance Unit is available to all Penn State employees to help them understand, navigate and meet all requirements to remain in compliance with University policy and local, state and federal law,” Weaver explained.
Penn State’s youth compliance program also has helped to shape a broader national model for promoting safe environments for minors on college campuses, according to Weaver, who is a founding member of the Higher Education Protection Network, and Camps on Campus, a kindred community under the American Camp Association focused on college and university youth programs. In her various roles, Weaver also serves on committees and speaks nationally on youth protection issues; facilitates the Big Ten Youth Protection Network and the Pennsylvania Higher Education Youth Protection Network; and has received the Higher Education Protection Network Champion Award, as well as the network’s Mentor of the Year Award.
Youth program opportunities
Penn State’s youth programs span a wide range of academic and extracurricular interests offered by colleges, campuses and units across the commonwealth, including the Palmer Museum of Art, the Arboretum at Penn State, Penn State Athletics, the Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum, Penn State Extension, the College of Engineering, the Center for the Performing Arts and the Blue Band, among many others.
Programs introduce young people to an array of subjects such as robotics, artificial intelligence, forensic science, weather forecasting, architecture and landscape architecture, mining technology, cryptology, pre-medicine, investing, sustainability, geology, ecology, lighting design and sports.
Questions regarding youth programs compliance can be directed to Weaver at stw126@psu.edu, or visit the Youth Program Compliance website for additional information and resources.
To learn more about Penn State’s youth camps and programs, visit the Penn State Outreach K-12 Engagement Network website.