Category Archives: STEM

It’s STEM Day! See What the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Have Been Doing

by Jessica Miano

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) plays a crucial role in shaping the future of our world. Recognizing the importance of encouraging girls’ interest and participation in these fields, Girl Scouts across the country come together to celebrate STEM Day. This special day offers exciting opportunities for girls to explore, learn, and embrace the wonders of STEM.

Here are a few reasons why we celebrate STEM in Girl Scouting:

  1. Breaking Stereotypes: STEM Day for Girl Scouts challenges gender stereotypes and fosters an inclusive environment where girls are empowered to pursue their interests, regardless of societal norms. By participating in hands-on activities and engaging experiments, young girls gain confidence and realize that they too can excel in STEM disciplines.
  2. Nurturing Curiosity: The world of STEM is a vast universe waiting to be explored. STEM Day sparks curiosity and ignites the passion for discovery in young minds. Through interactive workshops and immersive experiences, girls are encouraged to ask questions, think critically, and problem-solve – essential skills for success in any career.
  3. Inspiring Future Leaders: STEM Day serves as a powerful platform for role models and mentors to connect with Girl Scouts. Female scientists, engineers, and technologists share their journeys, struggles, and triumphs, inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders. This exposure to real-life examples breaks down barriers and opens doors to endless possibilities.

STEM Day is a celebration of the limitless potential that lies within every Girl Scout. By embracing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, these young girls are equipped with the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. As we celebrate STEM Day with Girl Scouts, we reaffirm our commitment to empowering girls to reach for the stars and make a lasting impact in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Check out these Girl Scouts from around the Gulfcoast as they have been exploring STEM with their troops all year long:

In January, Girl Scouts toured the AJAX Paving facility in Venice to learn all about the engineering of how rocks are turned into roads! This patch program was created by the awesome female engineers at AJAX and we are so grateful we were able to tour their facility and explore careers opportunities in construction! Thanks AJAX!
Junior Troop 379 earned their Think Like an Engineer Patch!

These Girl Scouts toured the Lee County Sheriff Office Forensics Facility and learned real scientific forensics skills to earn their Special Agent Badges!

Explore more badges and patch programs you and your troop can earn by visiting the GSUSA Shop.

Girl Scout Troop 673 went to Run Right Automotive LLC in Bonita Springs to earn their Car Car Badge.

Guest Blog: A Silver Award with Wings

by Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida

Bradenton Girl Scouts Plant Butterfly Garden

by Olivia, guest blogger

Hi, I am Olivia, a member of Girl Scout Troop 16 in Bradenton.crowley4 crop

As our Girl Scout Silver Award project, my troop restored the butterfly garden at the Crowley Museum and Nature Center.

The Silver Award has very specific qualifications and is one of the highest honors a Cadette Troop can earn. One of the main qualifications is to pick a project that has a lasting impact on the community with a commitment of at least 50 hours of service time.

At one time or another, all my troop members assisted in the project. In December 2014, we began with a trip to Selby Gardens for a private tour. We met with the caretaker of their butterfly garden to learn the basics of maintaining a healthy butterfly garden, and to get an idea of what Florida native plants we could use. We learned to use plants that sustained the larvae population. Selby provided us with a list of butterflies and butterfly-friendly plants, and the list was very useful in deciding what plants we wanted to use and what was native to Florida.

We designated a portion of our cookie booth proceeds to fund the project and in March 2015, we started clearing the area with only gloves, a shovel, and two spades. With our modest amount, we purchased the few plants we could and planted them, but there was still much more work to be done. That is when I applied for a grant from the Serenoa Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. Because of the generous grant we received, we were able to purchase more tools and many more plants so that we could complete the project before the heat of summer kicked in.

Some of the plants we planted were Prostrate Porter weed (Strachytarpheta jamaicentis), Tropical Sage (Salvia coccina), Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Firebush (Hamelia patens), Wild Coffee (Psychotria nervosa), and Giant Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea). We purchased our plants from both Florida Native Plants and Crowley nurseries.

Cadettes from Troop 16 (left to right): Olivia, Emily, Sydney, and Delaney.

Cadettes from Troop 16 (left to right): Olivia, Emily, Sydney, and Delaney.

We are proud of the work we accomplished and are committed to maintaining the butterfly garden throughout the years. We could not have accomplished this without the help of the Serenoa Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society and all the people we met along the way who took the time to educate us. Most of all, we thank our parents and our leaders, Antoinette Yagy, Suzanne McLauchlin, and our mentors, Gerald Yagy and Mike Amado.

Be sure to check out all the pictures we posted on the Serenoa Chapter’s Facebook page! We encourage everyone to come out to Crowley Museum and Nature Center and enjoy the peacefulness of the gardens and the beauty of nature!

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Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the Sept. 2015 newsletter of the Serenoa Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, and is shared here with their permission.