Girl Scouts of the USA introduced 23 new badges in STEM and the outdoors – their largest programming rollout in almost a decade!
Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho (GSEWNI) is a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization open to all girls and adults within their 30-county footprint. Girl Scouts is the premier voice for girls and a leading expert on their growth and development.
Girl Scouts is all about being girl-led, and developing new programs is no exception. That’s why our National Office – Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) surveyed girls to find out which science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) topics they most want to explore. The results weren’t surprising – computer science, engineering, and outdoor STEM landed in the top three!
Today’s world is powered by technology and girls want to do more than experience it; they want to help create it. Girls said they want to learn how to create apps, design video games, build robots, develop websites, create digital avatars, and much more. Because they know that code shapes many aspects of their lives, they want to know how to use it to contribute to their world.
Last month, GSUSA introduced 23 new badges in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and the outdoors – their largest programming rollout in almost a decade! Girl Scouts will be able to design robots and racecars, go on environmentally conscious camping trips, create algorithms, collect data in the great outdoors, try their hand at engineering, and so much more.
Each is topic-specific, aligned to the five program outcomes, and can be used as a prerequisite to the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.
STEM JOURNEYS
Engineering: Think Like an Engineer. Girls discover how to think like an engineer by participating in hands-on design challenges and completing a Take Action project.
Computer Science: Think Like a Programmer. Girls learn how programmers solve problems as they (girls) participate in interactive computational-thinking activities and complete a Take Action project.
Outdoor STEM: Think Like a Citizen Scientist. Girls practice the scientific method by undertaking a citizen science project. They make observations, collect data, and work with scientists who provide feedback on research and findings. Girls also complete a Take Action project.
OUTDOOR JOURNEY
Anchored by the Troop Camping badge, our new Outdoor Journey will strengthen girls’ outdoor skills and ignite their interest in environmental stewardship. Girls will also complete a Take Action project.
BADGES
Engineering | Robotics: Girls design their own robots after learning how they’re built and programmed. “Unplugged” activities allow girls to earn badges without buying kits.
Engineering | Mechanical Engineering: Girls complete hands-on engineering activities, such as building and testing rollercoasters, race cars, and gliders.
Girls’ Choice | Troop Camping: Get ready for fun, adventure, and challenge in the great outdoors with the winning Girls’ Choice badge for 2017.
Daisy Badges: Two new Daisy badges, Outdoor Art Maker and Good Neighbor, give Daisies a chance to get in on the creativity and discover all about their school, city or town, and state!
The new Girl Scout programming builds girls’ skills and encourages their interest in STEM and environmental conservation from an early age—areas girls are not typically encouraged to explore outside Girl Scouting—increasing their confidence in an all-girl, girl-led environment where they feel comfortable to try new things, take appropriate risks, and learn from failure.
GSUSA created select badges with contributions from notable organizations in the STEM and outdoor industries, such as GoldieBlox, WGBH/Design Squad, the Society of Women Engineers, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Code.org, and SciStarter.
Investing in girls through the Girl Scouts means STEM opportunities for millions of girls, helping make more women in STEM careers a reality. Girl Scouts, through programs such as Imagine Your STEM Future and the newly launched STEM Journeys and Badges, introduces girls of every age to STEM experiences relevant to everyday life. We help every girl see that STEM careers can help fulfill their desires to make the world a better place. Because, if more girls learn that STEM careers are a great path towards their goals, to serve the world, more girls will choose STEM.
If you would like more information about Girl Scouts of Eastern WA & Northern ID, please visit us at www.gsewni.org or email customercare@gsewni.org. To read further about Girl Scouts and STEM, please visit http://blog.girlscouts.org/2017/07/why-girl-scouts-why-now.html.
