Middle School STEAM Programming
Our middle school girls learned about coding and worked with mentors from EY to create online magazines with their new skills. They also took several virtual field trips to companies including Adobe, Simpson Strong-Tie, Protiviti, Turner Construction, CellFE and Zumper to learn about careers in STEAM fields. Exposure to STEAM careers, many of which are male-dominated, and making connections with professional women in these careers is a bedrock of our focus on gender equity. Research shows that despite equal interest in elementary school, by 8th grade girls are half as interested as boys in these careers, limiting their access to rewarding opportunities. Our programs aim to change that outcome through sustained exposure, connections, and encouragement.
Our partners at Protiviti designed a Girls Inc. Escape Room activity where the girls were in small teams with one of our corporate volunteers to solve technology and security-related puzzles. The teams solved puzzles to move on to the next phase and eventually ‘escape” from the breakout room. After the fun and engaging activity, the girls had a chance to ask the Protiviti staff college and career questions during a mini mentoring session.