Way back when, girls flourished in non-team sports and activities. Whether it was horseback riding, tennis, sewing, piano, archery or fencing, gals were taught going it alone.
Then Juliette Gordon Low (aka Daisy) decided that like the Boy Scouts, girls needed to learn about leadership, being self reliant and teamwork. Thus in 1912 she assembled 18 little girls in Savannah for the first ever Girl Scouts meeting.
Over the years Daisy plan has continued based on her initial idea.
From July 15-20 the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas are going to invade the University of Texas at Dallas campus for “College Journey — Teaming for Tomorrow.” They’ll “have the opportunity to live in the college residence halls and experience life on a college campus, participate in hands-on experiments and tour a top company in the area.”
Sounds good, but what does it mean?
The ladies will be exposed to professional careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Right. It’s not sexy and Katy Perry will not be performing, but it’s where the future is. This time will allow mentoring by women who have already journeyed the trail that the young lasses are facing in such areas as “electrical engineering, chemical engineering, food science and training on professional skills.”
According to GSETX CEO Colleen Walker, “Girls Scouts of Northeast Texas has identified STEM as a critical area that aligns with our national curriculum to promote leadership in girls. With current research showing that 80% of the fastest growing career fields are in science and technology, providing girls with the courage and confidence they need to engage and embrace these educational areas aligns closely with the Girl Scout mission.”
This opportunity has resulted thanks to donations from Texas Instruments and Fluor.
“We partner with Girl Scouts because we absolutely need girls to be engaged in STEM careers,” said Trisha Cunningham, TI’s Worldwide chief citizenship officer. “Today’s jobs require advanced math and science skills, and the technology breakthroughs of tomorrow will be created by a workforce with STEM skills. Women are currently underrepresented in engineering and other STEM fields, and we need their intellect and creativity to solve our world’s challenges, such as improving healthcare, saving energy, making cars safer and addressing environmental and security issues. Our future depends on it.”
Fluor is partnering with GSNETX for the first time, yet mirrors the critical need to expose girls to STEM curriculum.
“Relevant, fun and inspirational STEM enrichment opportunities such as College Journey – Teaming for Tomorrow are exactly what’s required to be successful in preparing the next generation of innovators, by companies like Fluor to compete in the future. That is one of the reasons why STEM education is so important to Fluor and we are pleased to be a partner of the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas,” said Torrence Robinson, senior director, Community Affairs for Fluor Corporation.
In addition to the campus and classroom exposure, a Career Exploration site trip to Frito Lay will give the girls an exclusive behind the scenes look on how STEM is used to make their favorite chips.
