Successful Kick-Off Conference
MGSC Conference in Missoula

The Montana Girls STEM Collaborative had a successful Kick-Off conference in 
Missoula on August 8, 2012 as part of the  Montana 21st Century Community Learning Centers Conference.  Over 80 people from organizations around the state had the chance to hear from girls involved in science, groups providing programs to girls, and Lisa Regalla of Minnesota Public TV about the SciGirls Seven - Best Practices in working with girls in science. You can hear a Montana Public Radio interview with Lisa Regalla  here. Pictured to the right are First Lady and MGSC Champions Board member Nancy Schweitzer and some of the girls from the girls-in-science panel. 
 
Thanks to all who assisted, attended and showed interest. We're excited to keep the momentum going with more activities, events, and collaboration! Stay updated on MGSC events by visiting our  webpage and following us on  Facebook.
 
MGSC Featured Program
Girls for a Change

The Montana featured program this newsletter is "Girls for a Change", part of Thrive in Bozeman. Girls for a Change empowers girls to embrace their futures, secure in their ability to create and contribute to the world they want. They participate in leadership and community service activities and meet with girls/women from other cultures and countries to enhance opportunities for dialogue and solutions for the world they share. 

Each year, these girls plan an annual conference that brings girls from across the state, nation, and even across oceans together to share ideas, insights, and opportunities. The Girls for a Change program increases girls' awareness of their communities, their world, and their strengths and abilities; builds leadership and civic engagement skills; and helps girls find balance in a challenging world. At the conference, girls have the opportunity to participate in different workshops including those that are science-related. Past conferences have featured Nerdy Girls, Engineers Without Borders and workshops on Wind Energy, Sustainable Building- Solar Architecture, and Soil Science. 

Girls for a Change is seeking volunteer presenters who will design interactive, teen appropriate workshops that will inspire a wide variety of girls from across Montana. All workshops are 60 minutes in length with an additional 5 minutes for evaluation. This year's conference is on February 9, 2013 in Bozeman and presenter applications are available. Sign up NOW to be a part of "Girls for a Change"! 

 

National Resources
Girls and Technology
 
October 3-6 is the  Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing in Baltimore, MD.  We know of at least four women in Montana attending this conference.  Are you? Let us know so we can hear about your experience!
 
In recognition of this celebration, MGSC would like to share some resources on girls and technology. The  A nita Borg Institute for Women and Technology sponsors the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, and has some great resources of its own to explore.  At their website you can find information on job-hunting, mentoring, and changing the image of women in computing.  Another fantastic place to find information on technology for girls is the  National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT).  NCWIT has a newsletter, hosts workshops, awards, and keeps a blog.  They also have great resources that range from activity based ideas such as "Computer Science-in-a-box" to statistics and reports, to promising practices.  We especially love their option to search  resources by Goals - retaining, recruiting, inspiring, advancing.  So many ways to engage girls in IT! 

What's Happening
Upcoming Events in Montana

Oct. 5 Math Day at the University of Montana in Missoula
 
Oct. 10 - 4H National Youth Science Day with  spectrUM at The University of Montana
 
October 18-19 - Super Spooky Science with  spectrUM at The University of Montana
 
Nov. 20 -  Science Olympiad at Montana State University in Bozeman
 
April 12-14, 2013 - Springtime in Rockies STEM Conference Montana Learning Center, Canyon Ferry Lake