Community Engagement

When: Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Where: 11 W Church St, Bethlehem, PA 18018

Join us for Popcorn & Problem Solving at the Bethlehem Area Public Library! This interactive socialization event invites students to work together in a relaxed, hands-on setting while enjoying popcorn and all the fixings. Through age-appropriate problem-solving stations, students will collaborate on logic puzzles, team-building challenges, strategy games, and riddle-based activities that promote critical thinking and communication. The event concludes with a collaborative group challenge and a brief reflection on teamwork and problem-solving strategies, creating a fun and tasty, low-pressure environment for students to connect with peers.

🐼 Note: There is no cost to attend this event!

When: Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Where: Heinz Hall; 600 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

This field trip is recommended for grades 6-12, but all ages are welcome! Join Ms. Ruane and Mr. Hart (PA Distance Music Teacher) at Heinz Hall to learn all about the orchestra. How does an orchestra work?  From lighting and sound to instrument repair and artistic planning, go behind the scenes with the many talents, both onstage and off, that power a symphony.The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra employees from across the organization demonstrate a variety of responsibilities for this fast-paced look at the orchestra as a living, working team.

🐼 Note: There is no cost to attend this event!

When: Thursday, January 29, 2026, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Where: Iron City Boulders - Lawrenceville; Pittsburgh -143 51st St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201

All students for this field trip must be ages 9 or older. Learn the basics of bouldering, starting with safety! An experienced rock climber will take us through the ins and outs of climbing boulders. You can log this in your “Fit Log” for health and wellness class.

🐼 Note: PA Distance will cover the cost of each PA Distance student and 1 additional parent or guardian per student.  Each additional person is $10.00 cash the day of the event.

When: Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 12:30 - 2:00 PM

Where: 501 N 3rd St, Harrisburg, PA 17120

Join us in February to take a tour of the capitol building! We will have a tour guide who will explain to us the history of the capitol building as we walk around the building. Our group will also be able to walk around the interactive welcome center where students will learn about their state representatives in the PA house and Senate. If you've never been to the PA Capitol building then this field trip is your perfect chance to take a tour and learn about the capitol as well.

🐼 Note: There is no cost to attend this event!

When: Friday, February 6, 2026, 12:10 PM - 1:00 PM

Where: This is a virtual presentation for Grades 4-8

Grades 4-8: Crossing Borders Music uses music to celebrate Black trailblazers in this rich, one-of-a-kind, 50-minute in-school performance. Through guided listening, we will hear the stories of Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable, Florence Price, and Rosa Parks come to life through music for string quartet by African-American composers.

🐼 Note: There is no cost to attend this event!

When: Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Where: This is a virtual presentation for Grades 7-12

This field trip is only for students in grades 7-12. If you have an interest in the medical field then this virtual field trip is perfect for you! we will get to watch a professional surgeon insert a Watchman device into a patient. The Watchman is an FDA-approved device that lowers the risk of stroke in people with AFIB who are unable to take blood-thinning drugs. The Watchman device is implanted in the heart during a minimally invasive, one-hour procedure through a small incision in the leg. Most patients can return to everyday activities the next day. Cardiologists use a real-time 3D map to pinpoint the exact source of heart rhythm abnormalities (arrhythmias) to guide treatments.

🐼 Note: There is no cost to attend this event!

When: Friday, February 13, 2026, 2:10 PM - 3:00 PM

Where: This is a virtual presentation for Grades 7-12

Grades 7-12:  Are you interested in helping others and making a difference through your work? What does it really look like to work in health care day to day? In this Career Journey, we will explore a variety of careers in the health care field and learn about the many pathways that lead to these roles. Students will discover how their current interests, strengths, and skills connect to careers in care, including teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and responsibility. This program is designed with Career and Technical Education requirements in mind and highlights individual skills, collaborative skills, and community and career readiness skills needed for success in health care professions.

🐼 Note: There is no cost to attend this event!

When: Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Where: 640 Waterworks Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Together, we will visit the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, a historic and educational site along the Schuylkill River, where we will explore how water moves through natural and urban systems and why water stewardship matters. We will engage with interactive exhibits focused on Philadelphia’s water history, the city’s watershed, and modern environmental science, including hands-on learning about water quality, stormwater, and the organisms that help keep rivers healthy. Part of our experience will take place outdoors adjacent to the river, giving us real-world context as we observe and investigate the natural environment around us.

🐼 Note: PA Distance will cover the cost of each PA Distance student and 1 additional parent or guardian per student.  Each additional person is $6.00 cash the day of the event.

When: Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Where: 1815 Metropolitan St, Pittsburgh, PA 15233

Are you a high school student thinking about pursuing a career in the food industry? Come with us to take a tour of Bidwell Training Center’s post high school culinary program.

🐼 Note: There is no cost to attend this event!

When: Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Where: 4400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Join us for a guided program about rocks in minerals. After the program, you will be able to spend the day with your family at the museum! See dinosaurs, art exhibits, gems stones, and so much more!!

🐼 Note: PA Distance will cover the cost of each PA Distance student and 1 additional parent or guardian per student.  Each additional person is $10.00 cash the day of the event.