GSEWNI was one of only 3 councils nation-wide selected to participate in a new Girl Scouts of the USA STEM pilot program called Citizen Science Journey
Written by Nicole Adamson-Wood, Director of Marketing & Philanthropy, GSEWNI
Each year, girls across Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho participate in STEM programs through Girl Scouts. Our research-backed STEM programs serve to engage girls in scientific reasoning and allow them to apply concepts learned in school in hands-on ways that reinforce learning and are fun. And, when combined with the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, propel girls toward a bright future.
Girl Scouts offers more than 60 STEM Badges and Journeys including 4 new badges added this year. Girls can earn a Cybersecurity Badge, a Mechanical Engineering Badge, Robotics Badge, and a Space Science Badge. Girl Scouts can earn badges with their troops and/or through special programs offered by our Girl Experience staff.
Girl Scouts of Eastern WA & Northern ID (GSEWNI) recognizes that while many of the jobs of the future will require STEM knowledge, women still fall way behind their male counterparts when it comes to STEM careers. Currently, only 24% of the scientists and engineers in the U.S. are women. We also know that when companies and academic institutions have a more diverse pool of talent, innovation increases. If we’re going to ensure our future in the 21st century as a leader of STEM we need to start now by making sure that girls have equal access to STEM education and learning opportunities.
This year, GSEWNI was one of only 3 councils nation-wide selected to participate in a new Girl Scouts of the USA STEM pilot program called Citizen Science Journey. Designed for older girls, participants will learn how to make and share scientific observations, contribute to research efforts, and take on a project to complete as a result of what they’ve learned. Being part of this pilot program means that Girl Scouts in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho will be determining STEM programming for the rest of the nation. We’re proud to be leading the way for girls in STEM in our community.
In addition to the STEM opportunities we offer through Troop activities, we offer a number of programs to girls to earn STEM badges. New this year, girls will be able to earn a mechanical engineering badge, explore the science behind snow, and more. Our new STREAM Girls program provides girls with the opportunity to observe streams, collect data, sample macroinvertebrates, and fly fish. We’re also pleased to continue our partnership with Itron to enhance and develop STEM programs for girls. This year, girls will be able to attend an event at Mobius where they’re be able to earn one of three STEM badges. In addition, we have several teams competing in the First Lego Challenge this year where girls work together to program a robot and develop a solution to a problem they’ve identified.
We’ve got so much great STEM stuff happening! If you’re a girl and into STEM, or you know a girl into STEM, we’d love to talk more with you about how you can be a part of it all! Find us online at gsewni.org or email us at activities@gsewni.org.
