Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)
Today's contemporary Girl Scout programs introduce girls of all ages to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities, relevant to everyday life. Whether they're discovering how a car's engine runs, becoming math whizzes, or learning about careers in STEM fields, girls are moving forward into the future. Some of the many ways Girl Scouts helps create future female leaders and meet the growing need for skilled science and technology professionals includes:
SCIENCE
Nature and Science
Fun and Easy Activities: Nature and Science (bilingual) and Fun and Easy Nature and Science Investigations (available in English and Spanish) These books feature fun and easy indoor and outdoor activities that leaders can use to help girls conduct their own science and nature investigations using local resources and inexpensive materials.
Lighten Up! Discovering the Science of Light
Developed through GSUSA's partnership with the Optical Society of America's Foundation (OSAF), Lighten Up! provides girls ages 11–15 with fun, hands-on activities such as making a sunset in a bottle, using Jell-O to understand how lenses work, and crafting a telescope–to acquaint girls with the fascinating world of optics. The guide illustrates how optics concepts relate to current research and it is important in everyday life. Also, career profiles highlight some of the many job opportunities available in the field.
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TECHNOLOGY
Girls Go Tech
Women represent 46% of the total workforce but only 25% of the technology workforce. Early interest in science, math, technology, and engineering is critical to girls' success in these subjects. Through the Girls Go Tech Web site, girls discover technology by exploring their everyday surroundings and high-tech careers. The site's games, explanations, and profiles of women in these fields give girls a fun and comprehensive perspective on what the future could be. Today's Girl Scouts are preparing to take on the 21st century's many technological opportunities and challenges.
ENGINEERING AND MATH
Girl Scout STEM programs are designed to involve and inspire girls in the vastly underrepresented fields of engineering and technology. Engaging girls in real design and engineering gives girls an opportunity to look more critically at the designed world and tap into their own capacity to create change. These programs help girls formulate problems from everyday situations and develop strategies to solve problems, while verifying and interpreting their results. They also help girls understand the role of engineering and design in formulating solutions to real-world problems.
