UPTON, NY – On Thursday, September 12, Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker joined the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County (GSSC) and Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) at the unveiling of a brand new patch program that encourages scouts of all ages to get involved in the world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The partnership offers three new patches to three different levels of scouts, and encourages all to learn, explore, and share. The youngest group, Daisies and Brownies, are taught how to make scientific observations, use their senses to discover something new, and collect data. Juniors and Cadettes are focused on learning the scientific method and the engineering-design process, while Seniors and Ambassadors follow paths to careers in STEM.
“As a former Girl Scout, I am proud to see the strides the organization has made to broaden the experiences of young girls and open the avenue to STEM career paths that were not previously available to them,” said Legislator Anker. “I wholeheartedly thank Brookhaven National Lab and the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County for providing these opportunities to our future leaders.
As part of BNL’s commitment to encourage young women towards STEM careers, the lab has a long history of collaboration among local scout troops. GSSC and BNL are looking forward to working with the Girl Scouts of the USA to roll out this initiative nationwide throughout all Department of Energy complexes.
For more information, please call the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County at (631) 543-6622 or Brookhaven National Laboratory at (631) 344-3368.