Do you have a future engineer, police officer, or dentist at home? An aspiring IT specialist or Wall Street mogul? Or might your child need a bit of encouragement with schoolwork? Bring them to campus on April 25 so they may examine careers, enrich their minds, and have fun during Penn’s celebration of the nationwide Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.

The University will host a number of large and small group activities for youth ages 9-15, ranging from science experiments, tours of Penn facilities, and rock climbing, to survival skills, career information, and cupcake decorating. They can even watch the action at the Penn Relays.

“Penn has supported this initiative for 18 years,” explains Marilyn Kraut, director of Quality of Worklife programs in the Division of Human Resources (HR), “and it has grown tremendously because of the excitement and interest different parts of the campus have in providing activities for the young guests who come that day.

“Many of the presenters have actually contacted us to offer programming, and so it’s grown over the years,” she adds.

Kraut believes Penn’s wealth of activities available for the young guests is unique to higher education: They can visit locations as varied as a school of veterinary medicine, laboratories, a world-renowned sporting event, museums, theaters, a radio station, and more.

“We’re really lucky to have such a diverse, interesting environment to share during this event,” she says.

“It always coincides with first day of Penn Relays, one of our unlimited registration programs,” Kraut continues. “It’s a great opportunity to take a young guest to a prestigious international event.”

There are also a number of limited-registration activities in smaller venues.

Between 200 and 300 Penn faculty and staff take part each year, but the participating children exceed that number because some adults bring more than one child. To bring multiple children to the day’s events, request advance approval at qowl@hr.upenn.edu.

You don’t have to be a parent to join in the fun. Kraut says many faculty and staff who bring young guests are friends, relatives, or mentors.  

“If they have a young person in their life, they should bring them,” she says.

Kraut encourages Penn employees to check with their supervisors before bringing children into the workplace. Hosts will also be away from the office for a period of time because they must accompany young guests to the day’s activities.  

Participating youth will receive a free, custom-designed Penn KidsCard and are invited to a discounted lunch at the University Club.

For the full schedule of activities, visit the HR website, but please note—activities fill up fast. Registration begins on April 18.