Since 2019, Heather Isbell Schumacher, an architectural archivist in the Stuart Weitzman School of Design, has collaborated with her colleagues at the Materials Library in Fisher Fine Arts to create exciting and memorable activities for Penn’s annual Take Our Children to Work Day event. She started bringing her daughter Lena to the event five years ago; this year, she looks forward to having her youngest daughter Hazel come to campus as well. 

“I think it’s interesting for my kids to see a variety of things that people do here at Penn, and that they could do,” Ms. Schumacher said. “What I do is kind of abstract to them and they don’t really get it. This event makes my job visible and tangible to them and it brings us closer together.”   

This year, Take Our Children to Work Day will be held on April 25. The event is an opportunity for children to receive enriching hands-on experiences in Penn’s innovative, diverse working environments through an array of activities and programs. The event is geared towards children ages 9-15, offering age-appropriate academic learning activities, although children of any age are welcome to attend. 

You can see all of this year’s activities on the Division of Human Resources Take Our Children to Work Day webpage. Participants can sample a variety of fields from athletics to robotics. Plus, each child can get a souvenir PennCard with their photo. Reflecting on last year’s event, Ms. Schumacher said, “Lena loved going to get her PennCard made and the kite flying and engineering activities. We also did ice skating and took the art and architecture tour in the Fisher Fine Arts Library.” 

Paula Leahy, a research assistant phlebotomist in Penn Medicine’s department of dermatology, said that her daughters Mackenzie and Haley took a special interest in the Nursing School’s “Hands-on Fun with Simulated Patients” activity when they attend last year’s event. “They absolutely loved it. We also did the walk at the BioPond, Boba Tea Making, and had lunch at Franklin Square. There are just so many fun activities for these kids to see and learn. It’s just a wonderful experience, so I asked them, if they had the opportunity to do it again this year, would they, and they said absolutely.”   

Schools, departments, and groups across Penn are collaborating to offer dozens of developmental activities for your children this year. Advanced registration is required and opens on Monday, April 1 at 9 a.m. Here are just a few of the activities that can be enjoyed: 

• Play homemade carnival games at the Penn Libraries with booths based on famous literature. 
• Meet a registered dietitian to learn about how they turn the science of nutrition into easy-to-understand information and experience a no-cook cooking demo. 
• Play 9-square and lawn games, participate in a fitness obstacle course, and shoot baskets with the Division of Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics. 
• Participate in an interactive session and explore the use of task trainers and manikins with the School of Nursing.  
• Explore physical phenomena at David Rittenhouse Laboratory—from rainbows to telescopes, and so much more, the physics and astronomy department will host hands-on activities.
• Learn about earning, saving, spending, and giving money with the Division of Finance.
• Attend sessions at the Pennovation Works complex featuring robots, a demo from the Penn Vet Working Dogs, and other fun activities. 

During this entertaining day, participants can also enjoy the Penn Relays, explore the Penn Museum, go backstage at Penn Live Arts, skate at Penn’s Ice Rink, enjoy expanded offerings from Penn Engineering such as learning about chemical and biomolecular engineering through ice cream making, and much more.

Sessions include activities in three different categories. Get to Know Penn’s Campus and Wellness Activities are both primarily open registration, unless otherwise indicated, and you and your children may attend as many as you like. Youth and their sponsors may attend one Special Topic activity only. Mark your calendar to register on April 1, because space is limited for certain events.

Supervisor approval is required for staff, faculty, and postdocs to attend activities. Participating staff must accompany children to all activities, so be sure to work with your supervisor to ensure coverage for operational needs. 

Erica Lu, head of global studies technical services at Van Pelt-Dietrich Library, said she looks forward to bringing her daughter Serena back again this year. “Take Our Children to Work Day is a fun experience for the kids, and they can feel proud about where we work, but it also increases the integrity of the University and incorporates the University’s core values of inclusiveness because it shows Penn values not just us, but our family members as well.” 

—Division of Human Resources