Saint Francis University Science Outreach Center

09/03/2026

SFU's Earth to Moon exhibit will be at the American Legion County Fair on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, from 4 pm to 8 pm! The exhibit consists of a futuristic panoramic display of Earth and the Milky Way as viewed from the surface of the moon, a 3D-printed Moonscape of the Apollo 17 mission landing site, lunar meteorites, lunar images, and other learning materials. Find it at the Cambria County Conservation District's showcase in Building #3.

https://cambriacofair.com
https://cambriaconservationdistrict.org/
https://sites.google.com/francis.edu/earth-to-moon/home

09/02/2026

The High Altitude Student Platform (HASP) is designed to carry up to twenty-four (24) student payloads to an altitude of about 36 kilometers with flight durations of 15 to 20 hours using a small volume, zero pressure balloon. It is anticipated that the payloads carried by HASP will be designed and b...

07/22/2026

A few spaces remain for Arts n' Crafts camp for grades 1-3, Monday to Wednesday, July 27 to 29, 2026.

This camp is for students entering grades 1-3 in Fall 2026 How creative can we get??? Students from 1st to 3rd grades will get the opportunity to get creative through drawing, painting, making slime, making bracelets and many more exciting activities. Each day will be filled with creativity, as youn...

05/12/2026

The Mathematics Department at Saint Francis University is pleased to announce the winners of
the 2026 Pennsylvania Statistics Poster Competition. The annual state competition is in its thirtieth year overall and coordinated for the eighteenth year by Saint Francis University. Cash awards of $96 for first place, $72 for second place, $48 for third place, and $24 for fourth place in each of four grade levels are awarded to the students who submitted winning posters. External financial support is provided by several regional and state professional organizations, including the Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Mathematics Council of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Statistical Association, Philadelphia Chapter of the American Statistical Association, and Association of Teachers of Mathematics of Philadelphia and Vicinity.

A statistics poster is a display containing two or more related graphics that summarize a set of data, looks at the data from different points of view, and answers specific questions about the data. The 240 posters submitted electronically included 43 in the K-3 grade category, 51 in the 4-6 grade category, 21 in the 7-9 grade category, and 125 in the 10-12 grade category. These 240 posters were submitted from a total of 453 students!

Judging for the state competition was held in April 2026. Winning posters were then submitted to the
Data Visualization Poster Competition, which is coordinated by the American Statistical Association.

Winners List:

05/01/2026

High School Students: Spend three unforgettable days on the beautiful campus of Saint Francis University, diving into hands-on learning, exploring potential careers, and experiencing the thrill of college life before you even graduate high school. The SFU Summer Pre-College Academies are immersive programs that combine real-world exploration with the tools and confidence you’ll need to succeed in college and beyond. You’ll connect with expert faculty, work alongside passionate peers, and gain insider tips from SFU Student Mentors who will guide and inspire you every step of the way.

Learn more:

Spend three unforgettable days on the beautiful campus of Saint Francis University, diving into hands-on learning, exploring potential careers, and experiencing the thrill of college life before you even graduate high school. The SFU Summer Pre-College Academies are immersive programs that combine r...

04/29/2026

Blast off into the world of space exploration! Emerging space enthusiasts entering grades 7-9 are invited to join us for an exciting CubeSat summer camp, where we will design, build, and learn about real satellite technology. This hands-on camp will introduce teens to the fascinating world of CubeSats – the tiny satellites making big discoveries in space.

At CubeSat Explorers: Missions to Space camp, young teenagers will experiment with mini satellite concepts while uncovering the wonders of space. From studying the Sun, planets, and Earth’s atmosphere to learning how CubeSats are launched and how they operate, campers will dive into real space science. Through hands-on activities, they’ll explore power systems, fit components into a satellite frame, and build simple circuits – just like real aerospace engineers! By the end of the camp, the teens will have a deeper understanding of the basics of physics and astronomy, CubeSat technology and space missions; and they will have the skills to think like true space scientists. No experience needed – just curiosity and a love for space!

Dates: Monday, June 8 - Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., (optional until 4:00 p.m.)
Location: Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA
Program Fee: $125
Registration Deadline: June 3
Registration: https://events.francis.edu/event/cubesat-explorers-mission-to-space-3-day-camp-6958

04/02/2026

Registration extended for the 2026 PA Statistics Poster Competition hosted by the Saint Francis University Mathematics Department!
· Open to all K-12 students in Pennsylvania
· Four grade level categories: K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12
· New submission deadline is: April 10, 2026
· Cash prizes and certificates are awarded for first, second, third and fourth place in each grade category
· Certificates awarded for honorable mentions for each grade category
· Winning posters from Pennsylvania Competition are submitted to the American Statistical Association Data Visualization Poster judging competition
For more information about the competition and to register please visit: https://www.francis.edu/PA-Statistics-Poster-Competition

01/28/2026

Registration is open for the 2026 PA Statistics Poster Competition hosted by the Saint Francis University Mathematics Department!

· Open to all K-12 students in Pennsylvania
· Four grade level categories: K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12
· Submission deadline is: April 1, 2026
· Cash prizes and certificates are awarded for first, second, third and fourth place in each grade category
· Certificates awarded for honorable mentions for each grade category
· Winning posters from Pennsylvania Competition are submitted to the American Statistical Association Data Visualization Poster judging competition

For more information about the competition and to register please visit: https://www.francis.edu/PA-Statistics-Poster-Competition

12/24/2025

Looking for a last-minute gift for someone special? Send their name on a mission around the Moon!🎁🚀🌕

Names will be placed on an SD card that will fly inside Orion when NASA Artemis II launches in 2026.

05/13/2025

Students entering grades 7 to 9 have the opportunity to participate in two exciting, hands-on STEAM-themed camps at SFU this summer!

STEM Art: The Wonderful World of Wool, June 12-13, 2025
🔗 Register here: https://events.francis.edu/event/stem-art-the-wonderful-world-of-wool-2-day-camp

CubeSat Explorers: Mission to Space, July 16-18, 2025
🔗 Register here: https://events.francis.edu/event/cubesat-explorers-mission-to-space-3-day-camp

Space is limited. Sign up today.