K-12 & Outreach

The College of Engineering offers a variety of programs designed to help young people explore the world of science and technology. Links to these programs are listed below.

College of Engineering Outreach Activities
The College of Engineering offers many outreach activities including various summer camps for middle school and high school students, traveling science shows for elementary school students, kits to educate students and teachers about science, high school visits to demonstrate engineering principles, mentoring programs, campus tours, Engineering Open House, scholastic competitions, and much more.

Summer Camps
On-campus summer camps provide interested students with unique opportunities to learn and experience various aspects of engineering, science, and math, while having fun with like-minded teens.

Ingenious Engineering
Website with information about engineering and engineers, plus games, experiments, and other "cool stuff" for kids.

If you are a high school student interested in learning more about degree programs in the college, visit the "prospective undergraduates" page of this website.

Guide to Engineering Majors [152 KB]
What exactly does a civil engineer do? And how is this different from what a mechanical engineer does? This guide introduces you to the different engineering majors available at Illinois.

Engineering Open House
Engineering students plan exhibits, design contests, and other activities to demonstrate what engineers do, how engineering plays a role in everyday life, and how engineering will shape the future.

Mc4West Education Initiative
Part of Chicago's McCormick Place West Expansion Project, this group of programs is designed to attract young people to the fields of architecture, engineering, and construction.

Women in Engineering (WIE)
WIE sponsors programs in the schools and the GAMES summer camp especially for middle-school girls.

Engineering Advocates
Engineering Advocates are students whose mission is to encourage high school students, and particularly women, to pursue a career in engineering. Advocates visit elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools to give presentations on engineering which are accompanied by hands-on, fun activities that incorporate engineering principles. Advocates also provide workshops for Girls Scouts, Expanding Your Horizons Conferences, and other special events.

World-wide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE)
This international program headquartered at the University of Illinois offers the annual Academic Challenge competition, a summer camp, and other programs.

Physics Van
Staffed by physics students, the award-winning Physics Van takes science and engineering into classrooms throughout the Midwest.

Campus activities for youth and children
Programs sponsored by other units at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.