BILLINGS, Mont. — Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming’s (GSMW) Mobile STEM Learning Center will visit Jackson on Aug. 10, providing free science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming for girls in grades K-12.
“The Mobile STEM Learning Center will show possibilities, provide knowledge and give hands-on STEM experience to girls at an early age,” GSMW said via press release. “While more than half of the U.S. workforce is female, less than one quarter of STEM careers are held by women. From their initial interest in STEM as a child to majoring in a STEM subject in college to pursuing a STEM career as an adult, the gender disparity needs to change at every stage of girls’ and women’s STEM engagement.”
The cargo-style van is a new addition to GSMW’s resources, and will serve 78 communities across Montana and Wyoming. It’s equipped with solar-powered tools including 3-D printers, microscopes, virtual reality headsets, drones and more.
“Approximately 67% of the population in Montana and Wyoming is rural,” GSMW said. “This translates to hurdles that can include a lack of access to honors courses, high-level technology business exposure, as well as limited access to quality curriculum and vigorous and engaging math and science courses. … The Mobile STEM Learning Center will allow GSMW to create and optimize an environment where girls explore freely, expand their perspectives, and hopefully pique their interest and confidence to explore STEM even more.”
The van will stop in Jackson on Thursday, Aug. 10, from 10 a.m. to noon at the National Elk Refuge & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, 532 N. Cache Street.
Learn more about the Mobile STEM Learning Center and see its tour dates on the GSMW website.
