Love science and technology? How about math and engineering? A robotics program may be for you!
Girl Scouts of the United States (GSUSA) has partnered with FIRST® to offer council program opportunities in these areas. The mission of the FIRST® program is “to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.”
How is GSEM getting involved in robotics?
In 2011, GSEM is working with 26 Girl Scout teams in the FIRST LEGO® League (FLL), grades 4-8, and Junior FIRST LEGO League (JFLL), grades K-3. Teams, led by adult volunteer coaches and mentors, work together to design and build a robot and program it to do various tasks. They also research a topic based on the year’s challenge and do a presentation about their research and innovative solution. Teams then compete at regional tournaments.
In 2012, GSEM is looking to expand the program to include high school aged girls competing in FIRST Tech® Challenge.
Girl Scouts who participate in teams can earn the Girl Scout Robotics patch. In addition, girls will learn valuable life and employment skills, by creating ideas, solving problems, and overcoming obstacles, while gaining confidence in their abilities to positively use technology.
Congratulations to our 2011 Teams!
Congratulations to all our Girl Scout FLL teams and their volunteer coaches and mentors on a successful Food Factor Season:
Purple Dolphins, Maribots, Robians, Gear Gals, G.E.M.S, I.C.E. Girls, SPLAT, Grand Center Arts Academy Girls, Neon Electrons, Lego GaGa, Girlbotics, LeGo Me, Gary Gore Girl Power, NUGA, Gamblbotics, Atari, Tie Dye Turtles, and Robo-Girls!
Six Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri robotics teams advanced to the FIRST LEGO League 2011 Eastern Missouri Championship: LeGo Me, G.E.M.S., I.C.E. Girls, Tie Dye Turtles, Neon Electrons, and NUGA. Congratulations to the Tie Dye Turtles who won the Inspiration Award, Neon Electrons who won the Teamwork Award and the G.E.M.S who won the Champions Award! Nice work ladies!
Our 8 JrFLL teams are still hard at work preparing for their showcase events in February and March. Good luck!
Opportunities to learn more about GSEM Robotics:
- Build A Bot: This hands-on robotics program will be held May 7, 2012 from 5:30-7:30 pm. Girls in grades 4-8 are invited to participate in this workshop that will teach them how to build and program a LEGO® robot and put it to the test in a fun competition against another team. Workshop session is limited in size, so register early! Refer to the Spring 2012 issue of Inspire for details.
- Robotics Information Session: Are you interested in learning more about starting a Girl Scouts robotics team? Come to the information session held on May 7, 2012 from 6-7pm to learn all there is to know about the world of robotics. Refer to the Spring 2012 issue of Inspire for details
Upcoming FIRST Events
FIRSTTech® Challenge Qualifying Tournaments
- 1/14/12 McKendree University, Lebanon, IL
- 1/28/12 Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO
FIRSTTech® Challenge Championship
Junior
FIRST® LEGO® League Showcases
- 2/11/12 MICDS, Ladue
- 3/3/12 Wedgewood Elementary, Florissant
- 3/10/12 Reed Elementary, Ladue
FIRST® World Championship
- 04/24-28/12 America’s Center, St Louis, MO
Volunteering for FIRST®
FIRST® programs also involve thousands of volunteers - from mentoring a team to being a referee at a competition. If you have special science, technology, or engineering expertise, or if you just want to be a part of the program, consider getting involved. Visit
www.stlfirst.org for more information.
To learn more about
FIRST® programs for all ages, visit
www.usfirst.org.
Questions? Contact: Michelle Currie, 314.592.2376, mcurrie@girlscoutsem.org.
Funding for Robotics generously provided by:
- Crawford Taylor Foundation
- Hannibal Rotary Fund
