STEM INITIATIVES

[Charlene Domschot]

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FIRST Robotics
(For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)

FIRST is an organization dedicated to "inspiring young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills." FIRST recognizes the importance of developing girls' courage, confidence and character to make this world a better place through engagement in hands-on engineering and science programs.

FIRST LEGO® League (FLL) introduces girls to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) using LEGO MINDSTORMS®. Girls engage in activities which test technical skill with robot design and programming while also exposing them to leadership skills through annual research-oriented community projects, promoting awareness of current issues. See this year's theme.

FLL can be organized as day camps, resident camps, after-school and/or university-based activities. Girl Scouts that participate in FLL are eligible to earn the Girl Scout Robotics Participation Patch (pictured at left).

For more information about FIRST and how to get involved, please contact Kate Pickle, STEM Project Manager, Technology and Engineering Initiatives, at [e-mail].

•GSUSA-FIRST Partnership Announcement
•Girl Scouts "Tech-Over" Robotics Competition
•What's FIRST LEGO League (FLL) All About?---------------------------------------------------------

Guiding Middle School Girls to Success

Did you know that according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs that require computer and math skills are each projected to grow by more than 20 percent in the next decade? Unfortunately, studies show that girls begin to lose confidence and interest in science and math during middle school.

The goal of Mix it Up! Guiding Middle School Girls to Success is to give girls opportunities not only for real-life applications of financial literacy and science, technoogy, engineering, and math (STEM) activities but also find their voice, challenge themselves, make friends, and have fun.

•Mix it Up!

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Fair Play: Design & Discovery

A Girl Scouts of the USA initiative since 2001, Fair Play: Design & Discovery serves girls through 63 programs in 30 states. Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors participate in an immersive experience through which they learn to see the world through the eyes of an engineer and solve everyday problems in their own lives using engineering and the design process.

Fair Play: Design & Discovery builds girls' knowledge of engineering, design and technology to support the development of inquiry skills, and to involve them in sustained problem solving. By participating in the design process, they begin to experience and understand how much of the world around them is created. Engaging 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. Girls formulate problems from everyday situations and develop strategies to solve problems, while verifying and interpreting their results. Design & Discovery helps girls understand the role of engineering and design in producing effective solutions to real-world problems.

This innovative engineering and technology program features flexible day camp, resident camp, after-school and university-based implementation models.

•See the Design & Discovery video
•Learn more about the program and inventions created by Girl Scouts.

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Lockheed Martin Science
Career Exploration Fund

This innovative program provides funds to develop activities on the local and national levels to enable Girl Scouts to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in a supportive, hands-on, non-competitive environment, while promoting consideration of careers in these disciplines. Career fairs, field trips, job shadowings and other inspiring activities encourage girls to set high educational and career goals and provide an incentive for girls with science ability to enhance their education.

Some recent exceptional activities initiatives:

•Extreme Science Careers Leadership Institute National Destination
•CEO University: cutting-edge technology in the business world
•Marsville: creating sustainable habitats
•The Penguin Project: exploration in biomechanics
Lockheed Martin also sponsors Space Day, which connects girls, leaders, parents and space enthusiasts to advance math, science and technology education annually in May.

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NASA

Girl Scouts of the USA has worked with NASA for more than 15 years to promote interest and engagement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). With a shared common goal to enable more youth and adults to embrace the value of STEM, NASA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with GSUSA. Strengthening this comprehensive partnership has provided adult development training opportunities, materials development, career exposure, research sharing, mentors, community outreach exhibits, summer internships for girls, field trips relating to earth and solar exploration.

Currently, more than one-third of Girl Scout councils have attended one or more trainings by NASA science experts. These councils have engaged over 100,000 girls in NASA missions, research and centers across the United States and International locations.

•Learn more at the NASA Web site

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