1. Note from Rachel
   
2. Girlstart Events and News
   
3. Volunteer Spotlight
4. Did You Know?
   
   

Is it hot enough for you? We're hearing that a lot these days as summer is in full swing! We've turned up the heat at Girlstart with our summer camps and having a great time. There are still a handful of spaces open for some of our camps in August so please visit girlstartcamp.org for more information.

We also want to let you know that Girlstart will be presenting Science Sunday at the Children?s Museum on Sunday, August 10th from 3-5pm. And remember, the museum is free from 4-5pm on Sundays so the whole family can enjoy some free science fun brought to you by Girlstart.

And just because it's summer doesn't mean we're not hard at work! We're busy getting ready for an entirely new workshop series launching this Fall designed for grown-ups! Yes, we'll be offering math and technology related courses for adults offering everything from personal finance to building an online presence through social networking. Fun for all!

IT Girls are headed to Sweetwater!
This summer the IT Girls are leaving the Hill Country for the Big Country as they hit the road for the 2008 Summer Academy at Texas State Technical College campus in Sweetwater, Texas! IT Girls will use their expertise as video game developers to examine gender equity in gaming. Girls will explore the power of blogging and other entertainment technology to effect social change. Participants will also produce a global awareness event in the virtual world of Teen Second Life.

The IT Girl Summer Academy is supported by the National Science Foundation, AMD, and Texas State Technical College. Click here to learn more about the Summer Academy 2008 partners.

Attention 3rd & 4th grade girls!
Summer camp is rolling along and we still have spaces available for our Surfin’ Safari summer camps. Join us as we uncover interesting and unusual things about all kinds of animals, from dolphins to zebras. Create a website for your friends to follow your animal adventures! Register at www.girlstartcamp.org.

Last week was our first session of Secret Potions Big Explosions and girls blasted through the week unmasking the mysteries of science. There are still spaces available for the week of July 7-11! Register now so the special girl in your life doesn’t miss out on this fun filled camp.

If you have any questions email camps@girlstart.org.

Play LaserTag and Help Girlstart Win Big!
Don’t miss Blazer Tag Adventure Center’s tournament this July where you can compete for prizes and win money for Girlstart! Tournament winners will go home with cash prizes up to $500 which Blazer Tag will match with donations to local charities including Girlstart. Games are every Thursday this month. Entry fee for the tournament is $10 for the first game and $7.90 thereafter, and includes a t-shirt listing Girlstart and other benefiting organizations. For more information contact: Blazer Tag Adventure Center (512) 462-0202. We look forward to seeing you at this fun family event!

Give Green at Girlstart!
Green is more than a buzzword at Girlstart. It is a skill set that requires the latest technology to grow a whole new world. Girlstart needs your help to update our Girlstart Technology Center. RECYCLE your money for a good cause. Help Girlstart raise $10,000 for the innovative technology it needs to GROW female scientists and engineers. Click the logo and donate today!

Upcoming Events Calendar
July 7-11 Secret Potions, Big Explosions Summer Camp (4th-5th grades)
July 14-18 and July 21-25 Scrub In Summer Camp (6th-8th grades)
July 28- Aug 1 Scrub In Summer Camp (9th grade only)
Aug 4-8 and Aug 11-15 Surfin' Safari Summer Camp (4th-5th grades)
Aug 10 Science Sunday at Austin Children's Museum, 3-5PM

Busy Bees!
Summer not only brings a swarm of campers to Girlstart, it brings hard-working high school volunteers who help us ensure the campers get the most out of their week. These volunteers have as much energy and enthusiasm as the campers! They spend the day leading games, taking pictures, assisting with lessons, and interacting with the campers as role models. Girlstart truly appreciates all 26 high school volunteers who are signed up to help throughout the summer!

Visit our volunteer page to see how you can get more involved with Girlstart!

Did you know that Sweetwater, Texas is the wind energy capital with 500 giant wind turbines? Find out what our IT Girls will be learning and doing this summer as they travel to Sweetwater, Texas for Summer Academy.

Current Sponsors

Lucky Stars
FOX 7 KTBC Austin  &nbsp National Science Foundation

Super Stars
The Dell Foundation   AMD  Texas State Technical College

Shining Stars
Applied Materials   IBM  &nbsp
Motorola     A Glimmer of Hope
Stark Martin Charitable Trust   Exxon Mobil   Topfer Family Foundation

Rising Stars
Kodosky Foundation    Nowlin Family Foundation
Randall's   Ten Eyck Landscape Architects
Silicon Laboratories    YWA Foundation
RGK Foundation   Wells Fargo

Shooting Stars
Cisco    Geomatrix   KLE Foundation
Maxwell Locke & Ritter    Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr    Pape Foundation
3M    Samsung  &nbsp Symantec   Qualcomm

Girlstart gives girls the tools they need to be leaders of their generation. Help a girl change the world. Give to Girlstart now!