April is STEM Month with Girl Scouts of Oregon and SW Washington, Sponsored by First Tech Federal Credit Union
Signature STEM Event Spotlight: OMSI Family Science Night, April 15, 2019
Portland, Ore. – April 1, 2019 – Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington (GSOSW) kicks off science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) Month in April. STEM Month is sponsored by First Tech Federal Credit Union.
Throughout the month of April, GSOSW will offer more than 25 STEM workshops, creating a capacity for over 600 Girl Scouts to participate in specialized STEM activities in the areas of:
- Astronomy
- Building Robotics
- Computer Programming
- Digital Storytelling
- Ecosystems
- Chemistry
- Habitat
- Math
- Mechanical Engineering
- Science
- Sustainability
- Technology
- Wildlife
- Citizen Science
- Women Engineers
“First Tech is an enthusiastic supporter of Girl Scouts’ efforts to empower and elevate young women everywhere,” says Nicole Frisch, Senior Director for Community Engagement at First Tech Federal Credit Union. “We’re delighted to support STEM Month and the development of our community’s next generation of thinkers, leaders, and innovators.”
STEM Month Challenge and STEM Month Patch
By participating in STEM Month activities, including OMSI Family Science Night and STEM Day, Girl Scouts will have completed part of the STEM Month Challenge and can earn a STEM Month fun patch. Girls can complete the STEM Month challenge by filling out a survey on the GSOSW website to tell us more about how they participated in Girl Scout STEM Month and how they will use what they’ve learned to make a difference in their community.
Featured Event: OMSI Family Science Night for Girl Scouts
On April 15, 2019, Girl Scouts—as well as their family members and friends—have the opportunity to enjoy a signature STEM event: OMSI Family Science Night. Attendees can explore popular exhibit halls, visit the physics and life science labs and see OMSI's featured exhibit, the Science Behind Pixar.
“OMSI Family Science Night is our largest Girl Scout STEM event of the year! It’s an opportunity for girls to immerse themselves in STEM with hundreds of other Girl Scouts and learn new skills,” says Shannon Joseph, STEM Specialist for Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington. “Girl Scouts can complete steps toward earning badges based on the exhibits, ranging in topics from resource conservation, like saving water and energy, to bug diversity to digital movie making. While girls are having fun exploring new STEM interests in OMSI’s exhibits, this event also helps them develop confidence in their STEM skills and abilities which in turn helps them understand the importance and relevance of STEM to people and society.”
OMSI Family Science Night is generously sponsored by First Tech Federal Credit Union and the Epping Family Foundation.
NEW This Year
New STEM opportunities this year include a way for Girl Scouts to participate in National Citizen Science Day with our new partners at NASA GLOBE Observer. Girl Scouts can explore STEM in the outdoors on one of GSOSW’s properties at the foothills of Mt. Hood, by learning how to collect and submit data about clouds, land cover and mosquito habitat mapping.
About OMSI Family Science Night for Girl Scouts
WHO: Up to 1,000 girls in kindergarten through grade 12 and their family members and friends; Troop Leaders | Volunteers | STEM Professionals
WHAT: Fourth Annual Oregon Museum of Science and Industry-OMSI Family Science Night with Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington; Sponsored by First Tech Federal Credit Union and the Epping Family Foundation
WHEN: Monday, April 15, 2019, 6 - 8 p.m.
WHERE: Oregon Museum of Science and Industry–OMSI, 1945 SE Water Ave., Portland, Ore. 97214
REGISTRATION: Community event open to registered Girl Scouts, their family members and friends. All attendees must register for this event. Please visit http://www.girlscoutsosw.org/en/sf-events-repository/2019/oregon-museum-of-science-and-industry--omsi--family-science-nigh.html to register.
PARKING: There is limited parking at the facility and street parking nearby. Parking cost is included in admission. Carpooling is encouraged.
Interested Media—Please R.S.V.P.
Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington’s STEM Program Specialist, Shannon Joseph and Director of Communications, Sarah Shipe, as well as Girl Scouts, will be available on-site for media interviews at OMSI Family Science Night.
Interested media should R.S.V.P. to communications@girlscoutsosw.org.
Featured Event: Girl Scout STEM Day (Medford, Ore.)
On April 27, 2019, Girl Scout STEM Day will take place at GSOSW’s Medford Service Center. This expo-style event will highlight STEM opportunities and careers for local Girl Scouts throughout Southern Oregon by inviting community partners, including Wildlife Images and the Southern Oregon Skywatchers, to host a table with an interactive STEM activity. The event includes a show put on by Wildlife Safari, to showcase careers in wildlife and highlight the importance of wildlife conservation.
Full List of STEM Month Activities
LEGO EV3 Robotics: Mission to Mars, April 6
Race Car Challenge with Rebel Bricks, April 6
Super Sticky Stuff with Mad Science, April 6
Girls Engage Technology with Saturday Academy, April 6
Tech Expert with Microsoft, April 6
Zoo Evening Safari at the Oregon Zoo, April 6
Entertainment Technology with Saturday Academy, April 7
Super Sticky Stuff with Mad Science, April 10
Zoo Snooze at the Oregon Zoo, April 12-13
STREAM Girls Cadette Spring Day Trip, April 13
Digital Media Studio: Movie Maker, April 13
Raptors of the Gorge at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, April 13
Scent-sational Animals at Wildlife Safari, April 13
Minecraft Build Challenge with Microsoft, April 13
Girl Scout Citizen Science Day with NASA GLOBE Observer, April 13
Zoo Evening Safari at the Oregon Zoo, April 13
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) Family Science Night, April 15
SPICE-ing It Up: External Combustion Engines with Spice Science, April 20
Harry Potter Kano Coding with Microsoft, April 20
Entertainment Technology with Saturday Academy, April 20
Zoo Snooze at the Oregon Zoo, April 26-27
STREAM Girls Junior Covered Wagon Campout, April 26-28
Girl Scout STEM Day, April 27
Science Saturday: STEM Family Fun at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History, April 27
Make your own Movies with 3D and Mixed Reality, April 27
iFLY STEM Experience, April 28
iFLY STEM Experience, April 28
Registration
Girl Scouts can register for STEM Month activities online at http://www.girlscoutsosw.org/en/activities/activities-list.html. QUESTIONS? Please email activities@girlscoutsosw.org.
Prospective community STEM partners can learn more at: http://www.girlscoutsosw.org/en/activities/program-partners.html.
About Girl Scouts’ Committment to STEM Programming
To learn more about GSOSW’s STEM programming, please see: http://www.girlscoutsosw.org/STEM.
Girl Scouts of the USA’s STEM Pledge is a multiyear initiative to put 2.5 million girls through progressive hands-on STEM programs by 2025. Donate at: https://www.girlscouts.org/en/adults/donate/STEM-pledge.html.
About Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington
In partnership with more than 8,000 adult members, Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington prepares 14,500 girls in grades K-12 for a lifetime of leadership, adventure and success. GSOSW’s programs in civic engagement, financial literacy, the outdoors and STEM serve girls in 37 counties in Oregon, and Clark, Klickitat and Skamania counties in Southwest Washington. The Girl Scout mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. For more information, please visit girlscoutsosw.org.
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