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Travel Camp Update

Summer is our favorite time of year, because it means camp! Not only do we get to host seven weeks of STEM fun at the Girlstart STEM Center in Austin, Texas, but we also have nine weeks of travel camp at 21 different locations across the country.

Our travel camp is delivered by our amazing traveling STEM CREW (Creative, Resourceful, Empowered Women), composed of small teams of 27 fabulous female role models. Girlstart’s STEM CREW make STEM fun, meaningful, and relevant for our campers and empower them to be brave, creative, and curious! Each week, our Girlstart Galaxy Summer Camp is put on for new groups of campers in multiple locations—from Texas towns such as Houston, Mission, Kyle, McAllen, San Antonio, Irving, Dallas, Buda, Bryan, Garland, and Grand Prairie to the reaches of Elgin, IL, St. Louis, MO, Sunnyvale, CA, Boston, MA, and Bellevue, WA.

As Girlstart takes a tour through the U.S. this summer, our Girlstart campers are taking a trip out of this world to explore the wonders of space. Girls discover what it takes to design and launch a satellite, live and work on the International Space Station, develop a shock absorbing system to protect astronauts as they land on the moon, and more. Campers channel their inner botanist as they create a device to grow vegetables in space, engineer a tool to take samples on other planets, and how to call Earth in this out-of-this-world camp. Additionally, girls learn about Ozobots, small line-following robots, and how to program them with both visual color-coded commands and online coding. The girls create their own unique rover map for their Ozobot Evo “rover” to travel through, following commands as it collects moon rock samples on a foreign planet.

We still have three weeks of our Girlstart Galaxy camp left and we’re beyond grateful for our travel STEM CREW and the opportunity to bring fun science to new locations! Keep your eye on the sky—one day one of our campers might be there!

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Meet our 2018 Houston Game Changers Keynote Speaker, Eileen Collins

Our second-annual Game Changers Luncheon in Houston is only three months away, and we can’t wait! We’re honored to have former astronaut Eileen Collins as our Keynote Speaker for the event as an inspirational role model and a former Women in STEM honoree.

Collins spent her childhood fascinated by airplanes and flying and took part-time jobs to save up money for flying lessons. She earned a degree in math and economics from Syracuse University and then began pilot training as one of the first women at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma.

Collins joined NASA in 1990 and gained fame for breaking boundaries for female astronauts. She was the first female pilot of a Space Shuttle in 1995, and 20 years ago, Collins was the first woman to be commander of a Space Shuttle mission. Over her four total space flights, she has logged more than 872 total hours in space.

Before her last mission, Collins gave an interview where she encouraged young women to follow in her footsteps and become test pilots and join her in being a Space Shuttle commander. She has great hope and support for those interested in space, like some of our Girlstart girls, saying: “The young people are going to be the ones to take us on to more exciting adventures.”

We’re excited to hear her speak at our Game Changers Luncheon on September 19 — tickets and table sponsorships available now! Until then, you can read more about her experience as a pioneering female astronaut here.

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Meet the Girlstart STEM CREW

It’s officially summer at Girlstart! We are expecting over 400 girls to attend our summer camp in Austin over 7 weeks during summer break.

To create the best summer camp experience, we have ten summer STEM CREW working alongside campers this summer.

STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)
CREW
(Creative, resourceful, empowered women)

“Girlstart empowers girls and I wanted to be a part of helping the girls grow intellectually and individually.”
– Morgan studies psychology at Southwestern University.
Favorite Quote: “Little girls with dreams become women with vision.” – Unknown

“I wanted to work for Girlstart because of the chance to get to meet new people.”
– Alyssa studies special education at University of Texas at Austin.
Favorite Quote: “Don’t worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.” – Jack Canfield

“I love getting the chance to spend the summer sharing my love of STEM with campers, and having lots of fun while doing it!”
– Hannah studies biology and environmental studies at Southwestern University.
Favorite Quote: “Don’t let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity.” – Mae Jemison

“I joined Girlstart this summer because STEM has had such a large impact on my life and increased my own confidence and I want to instill that same confidence in young girls.”
– Katie studies biology and business foundations at University of Texas at Austin.
Favorite Book: Tuesdays with Morrie

“I love Girlstart because of the all-female environment. I am constantly surrounded by intelligent and strong women who always inspire me.”
– Becca studies Math at University of Texas at Austin.
Favorite Book: Eleanor and Hick

“I think it is so important to empower girls and let them know at a young age that they can do anything they set their mind to, even science!”
– Claire studies neuroscience at University of Texas at Austin.
Favorite Quote: “Whatever you do, do it with passion.”

“My favorite part about working at Girlstart is getting to be a part of an inspiring and empowering community of women and girls where ideas are freely shared!”
– Bethany studies, medicine, health, and society at Vanderbilt University.
Favorite Quote: “Books! And cleverness! There are more important things — Friendship and bravery.” Hermione Granger

“Girlstart has empowered and inspired me in STEM and I cannot wait to continue this for girls this summer. We have creative lessons and fun activities to keep them laughing, thinking, and creating.”
– Helena graduated from University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Biology.
“Wherever you go, it is okay to break a few molds. It is okay for you to make them special order you something because it’s never been done. It’s okay for you to rock the boat, and every now and then you’re going to need to because…what starts here truly does change the world.” – Vice Adm. Raquel Bono, M.D.

“I love Girlstart because I really appreciate the all female staff that we have to lead all of our outreach programs. I especially love, as a college student, to spend time lifting up younger girls. Not only do we get to inspire young girls, but we also get a boost in energy and enthusiasm from the girls because they are always in such good spirits.”
– Ashley graduated from University of Texas at Austin with a degree in biochemistry and Teaching Certification.
Favorite Book: The Count of Monte Cristo

“I want to show girls new, fun, and creative ways to use technology. It’s such a privilege to work in such an empowering and positive learning space!”
– Erin studies communications at Trinity University.
Favorite Quote: “What you share with the world is what it keeps of you!” – Noah and the Whale

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