Vehicle will bring quality programming to girls around New Hampshire and Vermont
BEDFORD, NH – Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains will soon be bringing its innovative STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs to the more than 10,000 girls the council serves in New Hampshire and Vermont. How? With a new mobile STEM lab that will bring that programming to girls no matter where they live, what their backgrounds are, or what their socio-economic status is.
The Girl Scout council recently met a funding challenge from The Finlay Foundation several weeks early, resulting in $25,000 being added to the money raised so far. The entire initiative will cost $150,000 to buy and retrofit the van, as well as fund the marketing, outreach, staffing and operational costs of running the program for the first year. So far $113,775 has been raised, leaving a gap of about $36,000 to go to reach the goal.
“The Finlay Foundation is pleased to support Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains’ Mobile STEM lab!” said Karin Finlay. “We are encouraged to see so many young women learning needed STEM skills as they prepare for life in school and beyond. We commend GSGWM for raising matching funds in our Challenge Grant and we are thrilled to see how they move forward! Our best wishes to all of the young women participating.”
Access to quality STEM programs is crucial for girls. When girls who are interested in the sciences don’t see a future for themselves in those fields, their career choices are limited. This van will be on the road throughout the year, taking programs to troops and communities. It will also be featured at day and resident camps, giving Girl Scout camp staff the opportunity to enhance outdoor programs with unique STEM activities.
The mobile STEM lab will provide:
- Program space capable of seating 12 girls and a facilitator.
- A retrofitted interior with state-of-the-art technology including mobile broadband, a SmarTV monitor, Surface computer tablets, microscopes, and a 3D printer.
- On-site delivery of STEM programs and activities that are focused on the needs and interests of girls.
- Detailed facilitation instruction for volunteers to further expand the capability of the council to reach girls with innovative and specialized programming at the community level.
- Dedicated program staff to ensure consistent delivery of Girl Scout curriculum.
Girl Scouts offers the best leadership development experience for girls in the world – one that is designed with, by, and for girls. Everything a Girl Scout does centers around STEM, the outdoors, development of life skills, and entrepreneurship, and is designed to meet her where she is now and to grow along with her.
You can help make this project happen. Visit https://www.girlscoutsgwm.org/en/donate/full-steam-ahead.html to learn more and donate.
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About Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains: Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains is recognized throughout New Hampshire and Vermont as a leading expert on girls. Our Girl Scout Leadership Experience is a one-of-a-kind leadership development program for girls, with proven results. It is based on time-tested methods and research-backed programming that helps girls take the lead—in their own lives and in the world. Through our exciting and challenging programs, Girl Scouts not only participate but also take the lead in a range of activities—from kayaking, archery, and camping, to coding, robotics, financial literacy training, and beyond! Serving more than 10,000 girls throughout New Hampshire and Vermont, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Visit www.girlscoutsgwm.org.
