Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline Council (GSVSC) Brownie Science Try-It Day

The Girl Scout program is for all girls age 5-17 and is designed to help girls discover their personal best, connect with others in a diverse world, and take action to solve community problems. A year of Girl Scouting still includes the timeless activities of camping, making crafts, and selling cookies, but today’s world requires a new kind of leader and so today’s Girl Scouts also have the opportunity to explore more substantive topics. As a part of a new initiative, Girl Scouts of Virginia Skyline Council (GSVSC) has developed special programming to lead girls into careers in math, science, and technology.
According to the National Science Foundation, women comprise 46% of the workforce, but only 22% of scientists and engineers. Research suggests academic stereotypes and lack of encouragement contribute to women’s weak presence in these fields. In light of this trend, GSVSC has developed Brownie Science Try-It Day to introduce young girls to science topics and to encourage girls to pursue careers in the fields of math and science.

For the second year, GSVSC will hold this program in Charlottesville on October 16, 2010 for 140 Brownie-level Girl Scouts (2nd-3rd graders). Like all Girl Scout programming, Brownie Science Try-It Day is girl-led and based on experiential learning; according to individual interest, girls will rotate to different tables/stations to participate in a variety of hands-on science activities designed and tested by Girl Scouts of the USA. Each activity station will be led by an adult volunteer and Girl Scouts will earn “Try It” badges as they complete the objectives of each station. This year GSVSC has recruited volunteers—and role models--from Northrop Grumman’s Women’s Initiative for Networking Success team as well as Campus Girl Scouts and Kappa Delta Sorority members at the University of Virginia.
The total cost to provide this program is approximately $2,000, including all program supplies, printing costs, personnel costs, and direct assistance to girls in the form of scholarships for program fees and the “Try It” badges. GSVSC hopes to hold this program annually to inspire girls to pursue careers in math, science, and technology. For more information on the Brownie Science Try-It Day contact Jocelyn Scherr, Donor Relations Assistant, at JScherr@cacfonline.org.