Category: Press Releases

The grant will be used to fund the expansion of Girlstart’s renowned Summer Camp program to five communities across the nation.

Girlstart, the Austin-based organization dedicated to STEM education for girls, will receive a grant from the AMD Foundation to fund game design education programs tied to this year’s slate of Girlstart Summer Camp programming. The grant will be announced during the opening ceremonies of the AMD-hosted Game On! Texas 2011 event Tuesday morning.

The grant will be used to fund the expansion of Girlstart’s renowned Summer Camp program to five communities across the nation. Girlstart Summer Camps are week-long educational programs for 4th through 10th graders, developed to increase interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) subjects and careers, and integrating game development as a core component of the curriculum. The camps will serve an estimated 150 girls around the nation, held in proximity to AMD sites in Silicon Valley, Calif.; Bellevue, Wash.; Ft. Collins, Colo.; Orlando, Fla. and Boston, Mass.

BRINGING PROFESSIONAL WOMEN TOGETHER TO TEACH 500 MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS ABOUT STEM CAREERS

Girlstart will host an expected 500 4th through 8th grade girls for its annual Girls In STEM Conference this Saturday. Held at the University of Texas at Austin, the day-long conference is designed for girls to learn about real-world careers from professional women from a spectrum of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields, with sessions that incorporate a variety of hands-on experiments.

Roxanne Wilson, known as “Austin’s Girl-on-the-Go,” who was a contestant on NBC’s “The Apprentice” and an on-air personality on Austin radio station The River 105.9, before her current position as a host on The Liquidation Channel, will be the keynote speaker for the event. A representative from the Mayor’s office will also appear at the event, to read the official proclamation declaring March 26 at STEM Education for Girls Day.

WHEN:

Saturday, March 26 (Opening Ceremonies 10:30-11:30 a.m., programming continues through 3:30 p.m.)

WHERE:

University Teaching Center, Room 3.122 (21st and Speedway)

ON-SITE CONTACT:

Phil West, 512.769.3838 (cell/text)

As part of the new SXSW.edu program – a two-day series of panels on education and technology hosted by the Texas Education Agency and South by Southwest – Girlstart Executive Director Tamara Hudgins will participate in a panel specifically geared to addressing issues around STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education for girls.
The panel, “Collaborating and Communicating to Engage More Girls in STEM,” was organized by Tricia Berry of the Texas Girls Collaborative Project, and in addition to Hudgins, will include representatives from UTeachEngineering and the Austin Children’s Museum. Hudgins will not only elaborate on innovative ways in which Girlstart has developed STEM education for girls, but also plans to address the importance of furthering STEM education for girls.

WHEN:
Wednesday, March 9, 4:15 p.m.

WHERE:
AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center, 1900 University Avenue
Classroom 107

ON-SITE CONTACT:
Phil West, 512.769.3838 (cell/text)

FOR GIRLS ENTERING 3RD GRADE THROUGH GIRLS ENTERING 10TH GRADE, WITH REGISTRATION STARTING JAN. 3

(AUSTIN) – Girlstart, the award-winning Austin-based non-profit organization dedicated to empowering girls in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), has announced an expanded summer camp lineup reaching a wider age range of girls than ever before, in what is to be a newly-expanded Girlstart headquarters come this summer. Registration for the STEM-inspiring camps will begin on Jan. 3.

“We’re excited to expand our summer programs to include more age groups,” said Katelyn Wamsted, program director. “We strive to make the camps entertaining and fun places for girls to spend part of the summer, as well as ignite excitement and spark interest in a variety of STEM subjects and careers.”

The camps also come in a year in which Girlstart will extend education offerings to teachers as well as students – continuing education programs for elementary and middle school teachers. Offered onsite at Girlstart as well as several Regional Education Service Centers in 2011, Girlstart’s professional development showing educators how to integrate STEM education through the Girlstart approach.

Camps this year will include:

Designer Girl
For Girls Entering 6th-8th Grades
(June 6-10, June 13-17)
Explore how engineering is all around us, from skyscrapers to runways. Uncover the world of high-tech fashion, solar energy, robotics and more. Campers will also construct a thrilling amusement park ride and draft a 3D design model.

Tropical Paradise
For Girls Entering 4th-5th Grades
(June 20-25, June 27-July 1)
Jaguars, manatees, gorillas, creepy crawlers and more! Over 15,000 animals and plants inhabit a bustling rainforest. Campers will journey through the colorful layers of this mystifying environment.

Water Works
For Girls Entering 9th -10th Grades
(July 11-15)
You’re the engineer as you program your robot to save the day. Discover how robotics are changing the world. Girls will work together to design the ultimate underwater vessel.

Camp Hermione
For Girls Entering 6th-8th Grades
(July 18-22, July 25-29)
For Girls Entering 4th-5th Grades
(Aug 1-5, Aug 8-12)
Calling all muggles! Channel your inner Hermione Granger as you unlock Hogwarts’ science secrets. Campers will create their own online TriWizard Tournament game and design a virtual Gryffindor dorm room.

Motion in the Ocean
For Girls Entering 3rd Grade
(July 25-29, Aug 1-5)
Dive in to uncover the wonders of the sea! Penguins, dolphins, starfish and more underwater secrets revealed. Explore the exciting world of a marine biologist and create an online game featuring your favorite sea animal.

For more information on the summer camps, or to register online, visit Girlstart’s website at www.girlstart.org.