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By LEIGH SPANN
Scouts may be known for cookies and camping, but careers for the girls are also a priority.
The Girl Scouts organization is placing a priority on introducing the girls to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers.
At a recent summer camp called Minds for Design, the girls weren't pitching tents. They were building electrical circuits for devices like a doorbell or electric fan.
"A lot of people don't know that Girl Scouts has been making STEM a priority for the past 20 years," said Kristin Whitaker, chief marketing officer for Girl Scouts of West Central Florida.
Only 27% of current STEM-related jobs are held by women, and the Girl Scouts is hoping to increase that number by highlighting female role models who have already blazed a path in these careers.
Former Girl Scout Jennifer McDaniel is an electrical engineer and served as one of the facilitators for the Minds for Design camp. She was exposed to STEM careers as a child because her father worked at Kennedy Space Center. Now, she's the role model.
"Let them realize that as a female, it is a career path that they can pursue," McDaniel said. "It's exciting, and it's fun."
Sarah Moll, a 14-year-old Scout, knows that exposure to engineering now will help her in the long run. "That will make me feel a lot more prepared for when I decide which job I want to do," she said.
A top priority for the Girl Scouts is introducing these STEM careers to girls in a single-gender environment.
"Girls feel pressure from boys in a classroom setting as far as performance. The advantage that we have in Girl Scouts is that we do provide a single-sex environment where they can learn and feel comfortable around one another," Whitaker said.
Randi Mullings, a 14-year-old Scout at the camp, already knows she wants to be a civil engineer and has a role model. Her older sister is computer engineer.
"This camp has helped me a lot, so I can see stories from other civil engineers who've come to talk to us," Mullings said.
Leaders of the Girl Scouts feel that as the largest organization serving girls in the country, they have an opportunity to influence the next generation of leaders. As the STEM careers continue to increase, they want the Scouts to be prepared and be confident.
"That they feel empowered to make the best decision for them," Whitaker said.
To help or for more information, contact the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida at http://www.gswcf.org/contact-us.aspx or call (813) 281-4475 (813) 281-4475
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