What is the history of STEM Like a Girl?
STEM Like a Girl was founded in 2017 by Sarah Foster, a biomedical engineer and mom. While leading a hands-on STEM project in her son’s elementary school, she noticed less girls raising their hands or jumping into the activities than the boys. She was surprised to see a gender gap at such a young age and decided she needed to do something to change this! STEM Like a Girl hosted its first workshop in 2018 in Portland, Oregon and has continued to excite and empower girls and their families in STEM!
How is STEM Like a Girl different from other programs?
At STEM Like a Girl, we believe in the combined power of girls, supportive adults, and female STEM mentors. Our workshops encourage family learning by working side-by-side with your girl to solve fun STEM challenges. This is not the time to sit back and watch! Parents and other adult caregivers play a key role in girls’ developing interests in science and engineering. Many adults, especially those not formally educated in STEM fields, feel unequipped or unsure of how to educate and expose their girls in these fields. Our program is a great introduction for both adults and girls to show that STEM activities can be fun and don’t require a lot of equipment or costly kits. Our goal is to get both adults and girls excited about STEM by encouraging you to work together.
What age group do your workshops serve?
Our workshops are for 3rd– 5th grade girls. The STEM Like a Girl curriculum is specifically designed for this age group in both interest and skill level.
What if a parent can’t attend the workshop with their girl?
We encourage any supportive adult to attend our workshops with their girl. This includes parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other caregivers. We understand that family circumstances may make it difficult for a parent to attend along with their girl, but due to the nature of our workshops, we require someone over the age of 18 to be present at all times.
Will I be able to participate at a workshop with my girl even if I don’t have any background in STEM?
Absolutely! We believe that STEM is for everyone. Our program and curriculum are designed to build confidence and excitement around STEM activities in both the girl and her adult, regardless of their background or experience in STEM. Our supportive volunteers are always there to lend a hand or offer a suggestion to participants who may be feeling stuck or would like some guidance.
Are there opportunities for middle school or high school girls to be involved?
Yes! We invite middle and high school girls to sign up as volunteers at our workshops to help with activities, supplies, and offer support to the younger participants. This is a great way to be a STEM role model for younger girls!
I don’t have a STEM Like a Girl site near me; how can I start one?
We are in the process of updating this information to make it easier for new volunteer coordinators. In the meantime, if you are interested in starting a STEM Like a Girl site in your area, please contact us directly at info@stemlikeagirl.org.
How much do workshops cost and what does that cover?
The registration fee for most STEM Like a Girl workshops is $30 per girl and her adult. This covers supplies for all the hands-on activities (many of which you get to take home) and a snack. The actual cost per girl is $115, so as a nonprofit organization, we rely on donations, sponsorships, and other support to keep our registration fees as low as possible.
Is financial assistance available?
Yes! We are committed to making STEM Like a Girl accessible to all who want to participate! Thanks to generous donors and community supporters, we are able to offer reduced registration fees. The online registration form will allow you to request the level of assistance that is right for your family.
What is your cancelation policy?
A full refund or transfer to another workshop will be given if the cancellation request is made at least 14 days prior to the workshop date. Due to the nature of our program and preparing supplies, we cannot offer refunds for requests within 14 days of the workshop date. STEM Like a Girl reserves the right to cancel or postpone a workshop at any time. In this case, a full refund or transfer to another workshop will be offered to all registered participants.
What types of supplies do you use and how to do minimize waste?
We select supplies for our activities that are low-cost and easily accessible to families at home. We want to show that doing STEM doesn’t require fancy kits or equipment. We also really want the girls to be able to take home their creations! To do this, we provide things like straws, pipe cleaners, foam pieces, cardboard, disposable cups, craft sticks, and LOTS of tape! We know this means using a lot of single-use materials so we try to be conscious about minimizing waste, recycling, and using more sustainable materials when possible. This is an area we continue to work on to do better for the environment and teach our girls about sustainability.
Why is STEM Like a Girl only for girls?
The answer is rooted in equity, not exclusion. Although there has been a significant advancement in education and promotion of STEM activities for girls, women continue to be underrepresented and underserved in STEM, especially those from historically marginalized communities. This includes girls of color, girls with disabilities, girls from low-income backgrounds, and LGBTQ+ youth. In 2023, only 35% of STEM jobs in the US were held by women, with only 10% of STEM jobs held by Latina, Black and Indigenous women. STEM Like a Girl gives girls and female-identifying youth the opportunity to experience STEM activities in a welcoming and supportive environment. STEM Like a Girl provides a space for girls where they are free to explore their interests and be innovators without the distractions or pressures that can be found in a coed environment. Empowering girls in STEM isn’t about limiting opportunity: it’s about expanding it!
Does STEM Like a Girl promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)?
STEM Like a Girl is dedicated to providing a welcoming, inclusive, and equitable environment for all workshop participants, volunteers and employees. Our work is designed to support and empower those who face systemic barriers towards full and equitable participation in STEM. We treat all people with respect and dignity and are committed to providing a safe environment for every person. While our workshops are aimed to serve those who identify as girls, we welcome people who identify as non-binary or gender nonconforming who wish to be in a female-identified environment. We believe STEM is for everyone, regardless of where you come from, what you look like or how you identify.