Each month, this spotlight will highlight new programs, resources, and role models that are part of IF/THEN®, an initiative from Lyda Hill Philanthropies designed to activate a culture shift among young girls and introduce them to STEM careers.

To celebrate the Summer Olympics (July 23 – August 8, 2021) we are spotlighting the IF/THEN® curated Olympics resources featuring NBC Learn videos that highlight women in STEM who work with U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

Looking for more inspiring women at the cross-section of sports and STEM, check out the IF/THEN curated Sports resources with activities, videos, and photos featuring women who combine their STEM careers with sports, from dancing to skiing to hockey:

NGCP is hosting a series of webinars featuring the IF/THEN® Collection that will highlight ways to use the resources to support equity, increase representation of women in STEM, and engage girls in STEM.

GoldieBlox is educating and empowering girls by creating engaging content, fun toys, and interesting resources. Learn more about the IF/THEN® Collection, Curiosity Camp, and the newly released Camp GoldieBlox resources. The webinar will highlight ways to use these resources to support girls in STEM and hear from GoldieBlox founder, Debbie Sterling, and the stars of Curiosity Camp, about the importance of STEM role models and resources for girls.

The IF/THEN® Collection features resources highlighting STEM professionals who serve as IF/THEN® Ambassadors, and also includes activities that can be used in afterschool and informal STEM programming. Join us as we showcase these resources designed for educators working in a wide variety of educational settings.

NGCP Collaborative leads and local educators will showcase how they utilize the IF/THEN® Collection resources in their programming to engage girls in STEM.

Managed by NGCP, the IF/THEN® Collection includes thousands of images, videos, posters, and materials available at no cost to educators across the United States to use in classrooms, social media, camps, museum exhibits, and more. Stay connected to IF/THEN® on social media:

This year's summit, Can't Stop, Won't Stop: Leading the Way to Social Change, celebrates girl leaders, youth activists, and thought leaders committed to gender equality. Participants will gain leadership skills, training in community-building and advocacy, and interact with diverse changemakers. The Summit strives to empower, educate, and embolden the potential of every girl in attendance. Register.

This global leading education conference on Integrated STEM education brings together some of the most influential leaders in STEM education from both industry and academia to help inspire and shape integrated STEM into learning experiences for all students. Register.

The CSTA conference is a professional development opportunity for CS and IT teachers and administrators who need practical, classroom-focused information to help prepare their students for the future. Participants will have the opportunity to learn, network, and interact while exploring issues and trends relating directly to the classroom. Registration ends July 8, 2021. Register.

Centered on the theme of "Your Connection to Water", attendees will have the opportunity to make professional connections, share innovative ideas, and learn about new resources, tools, and technologies for use in classrooms, laboratories, and education programs. Register.

Bringing together informal and formal educators and exhibiting companies interested in, and have tools and resources to share to ensure successful implementation of STEM education in schools and communities. It is intended to provide resources for educators and organizations seeking to learn more about STEM education, associated outreach programs, partnerships, schools, and curricula. Early bird registration ends July 9, 2021. Register.

The Tapia Conference, organized by the Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities in IT and Association of Computing Machinery, brings together undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, researchers, and professionals in computing from all backgrounds and ethnicities to celebrate and promote diversity. This year's theme is "Diversity: Building a Stronger Future". Early bird registration ends July 31, 2021. Register.

WE21 is the largest conference for Women Engineers. This year’s theme is "Aspire to Inspire." Learn, network, and be inspired by diverse women in the fields of technology and engineering. A virtual conference option is available on the registration portal. Early bird registration ends September 20, 2021. Register.

The summit theme is “Change Happens with Partnerships in Places” and centers on five goals: Raise Awareness, Build Capacity, Increase Equitable Access and Outcomes, Racial Equity, and Pandemic Response. Summit will include conversations, actions, and priorities around these goals to substantially stride towards the national CSforALL mission. Call for 2021 Commitments early bird submission deadline is July 30, 2021.

The Connectory showcases STEAM opportunities for youth to families and is a free online collaboration tool for providers to help find partners based on interests and needs.

This month we’re spotlighting a free, nationwide opportunity, from the American Association for University Women. STEMEd for Girls was created exclusively for girls (grades 9-12), with a particular focus on girls of color, and for the parents, guardians, and caregivers who support their dreams and aspirations.

This series of lively, informative, and engaging virtual workshops starts on July 7 and runs through August 18, 2021. STEMEd for Girls is designed to demystify the world of STEM and show girls how accessible, exciting, and lucrative its fields can be. Girls will also be paired with a STEM Ambassador who can mentor and guide them in their education and beyond.

Get Started and stay connected to The Connectory:

Youth of all ages are encouraged to join NASA’s Universe of Learning and participate in the Summer 2021 NASA’s Astrophoto Online Challenges (July 1 - August 16, 2021). Participants will capture their own telescope image of the iconic active galaxy M87 or work with archived images of M87 taken with NASA space telescope missions and one ground-based radio image. Youth will engage in scientific practices through accessible data tools and experiences, and their work may get feedback from scientists. Enter the challenge.

The Change The Game Design Challenge strives to build a more inclusive future through gaming and education. Youth ages 13-18 are invited to submit an idea for a mobile game. Challenge period ends on July 31, 2021. Learn more.

The National Recreation and Park Association's (NRPA) 2021 theme is “Our Park and Recreation Story”. This July, NRPA will highlight stories of how communities are stronger, more vibrant, and more resilient because of parks and recreation. Learn more.

The NAPE Education Foundation's Make the Future program aims to encourage women and girls, especially those of color, to take part in STEM education and pursue advanced manufacturing careers. The program provides free methods and tools to help educators, counselors, administrators, and recruiters break down barriers. These barriers limit females and other historically underrepresented student groups from taking education paths that can prepare them for high-demand advanced manufacturing careers.

This brief from the National Science Foundation (NSF) INCLUDES Coordination Hub, discusses three critical factors for virtual collaboration: shared vision, trust, and effective communication, and how they apply to the NSF INCLUDES National Network and your virtual collaborations.

These two briefs provide a detailed account of the priorities for Black and Latinx families during the summer and examine what the summers of 2019 and 2020 looked like for Black and Latinx youth, including data on summer program participation, and caregiver/parent decision-making and satisfaction.

Founded by Varshini Odayar, a student at Harvard University studying Neuroscience and Anthropology, Sparking Lives is a nonprofit with the mission of empowering young girls and children globally through education and career counseling, medical support, and mental health resources. Varshini recently contributed a guest blog to the National Girls Collaborative, titled: Empowering Girls Globally through Education and Support.