Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Troop 601 recently soared into the world of aviation with a hands-on workshop hosted by female pilot Sahara at The Pilot Place in Sarasota, FL. The workshop, aimed at fostering interest in aviation among young girls, provided an immersive experience into the principles of flight, aircraft design, and the pivotal role of pilots in the aviation industry.

The Pilot Place, renowned for its flight school services catering to the Sarasota area, generously hosted Troop 601 for a day filled with educational activities.

The girls engaged in a captivating scavenger hunt using VFR sectional maps. A VFR sectional chart, also known as a sectional aeronautical chart, is a navigational map used by pilots for visual flight rules (VFR). It’s the primary map used by VFR pilots to navigate between airports and operate at new or unfamiliar airports.

They also had the unique opportunity to explore the cockpit of a Cessna airplane, igniting their curiosity about the inner workings of aircraft.

12 girls participated in the workshop, including Summer, Hannah, Amelia, Jenna, Victoria, Avelyn, Addison, Aliyah, Indy, Charlotte, Lainey, and Kyleigh.

Despite advancements, women remain underrepresented in aviation, including as airline pilots. In 2022, only 4.9% of all pilots with FAA certificates as airline pilots were women, highlighting the importance of initiatives like this workshop in encouraging young girls to explore aviation as a viable career path.

Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida supports such initiatives through its STEM career exploration badges, designed to introduce girls to various STEM fields, including aviation. These badges empower girls to discover their potential in STEM careers such as computer science, engineering, and environmental science, fostering a diverse and inclusive future workforce.

“Our STEM Career Exploration Badges play a crucial role in inspiring the next generation of leaders by nurturing their curiosity and helping them envision a future where they can excel and make a meaningful impact,” said Mary Anne Servian, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida.

“We are pleased to see Girl Scout troops taking advantage of local resources, such as this aviation workshop, to introduce girls to diverse fields and hands-on learning,” Servian added. “At Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, we are dedicated to empowering girls to discover new skills and explore career opportunities through engaging and educational experiences.”