Science Club for Girls
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September 1, 2010
I am a scientist. I received my PhD in Neuroscience from Harvard Medical School in 2009. As one of only 4 women in my class I can personally attest to the dearth of women in science. Many believe that a path towards a scientific career is hindered by a woman's need to get married, start a family etc. But I couldn't disagree more. The reason more women do not become scientists is because there aren’t enough women mentors out there to tell us that science is NOT hard and that we can achieve whatever we set our minds to. I wish someone had told me that when I was 5 years old! Science Club for Girls does just that: a remarkable afterschool program for K-12 girls where real women scientists (PhDs, MDs, etc.), some of us right in the middle of our careers, take time out to become those mentors to these amazing girls.... and in the meantime do some cool science too! In addition, the program is also designed so that girls that finish the curriculum have a chance to get involved as teaching assistants; thereby feeding the mentor-student cycle, a critical part in building self-confidence and foster success. I am a strong believer that SCG (and other programs like it) will change the face of science. Go pink lab coats!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
seeing my girls come back year after year, smarter, more confident and ready to take on the world!
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About once a year
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2007
September 1, 2010
SCFG is a great environment for girls organized in a way to engage girls with a lot of activities, that helps them to express themselves, learn science and explore their lives involving science. Girls take part in practical, hands on science activities, think and talk about science by sharing their results in a variety of different ways.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Over time many girls became more initiative in making decisions on their own about how to carry out their projects, record and interpret their activities.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
August 31, 2010
I spent last year working at Science Club for Girls as their Volunteer Coordinator, via the Massachusetts Promise Fellowship. This is a special organization. The staff is dedicated to the mission, and each adds her own special flavor to programming. Connie Chow, Executive Director of Science Club, is equal parts brilliant, inspirational and ingenious. In just over five years she has done tremendous work for the organization, expanding into Cambridge, Boston, Newton and Lawrence. She is a generous, powerful, capable woman who can do three jobs at once, simultaneously, while cracking a joke. I would trust any project she is ever a part of. From the perspective of the volunteer coordinator, I know that this program also serves the women in college and grad school who are looking for a way to connect with the world outside their university and give back. These are brilliant scientists who spend most of their days in the lab, and they really value the opportunity to make science fun with their peers and girls from the local community. It’s helpful for these women to be connected to other female scientists who are trying to make it in STEM, and support each other in these male-dominated fields. I had the privilege of being able to witness first hand what Science Club is capable of. Hearing the girls yell, “Science is for girls like me!” and rush me in the hall to ask why Science Club isn’t every day after school, is proof enough that this organization is making an impact on these girls and their families. Every week I hear laughter in the classrooms, and new vocabulary words like “endometriosis” echoing down the halls. Nowhere like Science Club have I seen an educational nonprofit combine fun with learning. It’s in the quality of our curriculum, the dedication of the staff, and the enthusiasm of our volunteer Mentor Scientists. On a personal level, working at Science Club inspired me to go back to school to pursue a medical degree. The world needs more capable female professionals in STEM. I’m sad that my fellowship with Science Club is over, but I have no doubt that I will continue to be involved in the future. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to serve and learn from such an incredible organization.
Photos
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Being the site manager at two clubs every week, and seeing how happy the girls are. Also, being the volunteer coordinator made me aware of how grateful the volunteers are that this program exists! They wanted to give back, and now have a way to do so.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
The inspirational people I worked with, and exposure to the nonprofit field at its best.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Dedicated, passionate, brilliant, funny, loving and creative.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Create a packaged model that could expand to any city in the world. We're already in Ghana!
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
August 31, 2010
Throughout my time at SCFG I worked directly with Connie, the executive director. My internship at SCFG, was honestly one of the most gratifying and educational I’ve ever had. I have interned at other nonprofits but none have the work ethic I found at SCFG. Although my peer and I worked from school or home and met with Connie once a week Connie was always responsive to and interested in our work and ideas. During my time there I felt as a member of the SCFG community so I went visit and photograph the SCFG’s programs.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
work ethic and commitment to the vision. I worked directly with Connie who was responsive to and interested. I visited the programs and was impressed; I believe the model of SCFG should expand its reach.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
One time
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
August 31, 2010
I found that while my girls were skeptical at first regarding what they might offer (being high school students), the staff immediately made them feel useful and resourceful. Working with younger girls empowering them and inspiring them to feel that science was fun, ended up empowering my girls and giving them a sense of confidence and confirmation that they were indeed interested in science. Having it be a "science club for girls" also helped them to incorporate science into their identity and sense of self. Both my girls were initially relatively shy. I believe that participating in the SCG gave them leadership skills in that they were given the opportunity to contribute to the learning and inspiring of younger girls. The volunteers also received training and support and were provided with special outreach opportunities geared towards their needs (for example they were given the opportunity to shadow a college student who was studying science to get a better sense of their next steps. Both my girls wrote about the organization in their college applications and they both have followed a course of study in science -- one in neuroscience, the other in environmental sciences. I believe that their involvement in the Science Club for Girls was very instrumental in helping to develop their confidence, to reinforce their interest in science and to explore what it might be like to be a woman in science with very positive role models by their side. I cannot say enough good things about this organization and the way it is run.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
empowering girls, helping them to explore their interest in science and reaffirming their potential to be curious and successful in a course of study and eventually in a career related to science.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
perhaps involve the junior mentors in developing the curriculum, at least for one session.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the way i saw my daughters blossom as a result of their junior mentoring experience
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
wonderful and devoted people
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
provide support and empower thousands of disadvantaged girls who otherwise might not even allow themselves to consider the possibility that they might enjoy or be interested in science.
Ways to make it better...
perhaps there was an opportunity to meet the other parents of the junior mentors (I am aware of the fact that there are probably other parents who would not like this)
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
reaching as many girls as they possibly can with a limited budget
One thing I'd also say is that...
Even President Obama has identified the importance of science to the country's future. The biggest challenge is reaching out to the disadvantaged. That is what this organization's core mission is.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
August 30, 2010
SCFG is passionate about enhancing the confidence and science literacy of girls, especially girls from groups underrepresented in STEM. As one listens to the stories of girls and their families who have “grown up” in the program, the excitement, gratification, confidence and support the program has provided is palpable, as is the feeling of “sisterhood” that is created among the girls. It is remarkable to see how the program has grown over the past 15 years from a grassroots effort by public school parents concerned with equity in education to supporting over 600 youth and achieving recognition such as the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit of the Year (2009). The program does an amazing job with a small staff and a wonderful volunteer base, so please continue (or start to) support the program in any way you can.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
volunteering as a Board Member.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
August 30, 2010
SCFG is an outstanding free program that gives young girls starting at Kindergarten level an opportunity to get acquainted with Science in a hands-on, fun, attractive and challenging way. My daughter enjoyed all the activities as a student since she started as a 3rd grader and last year, as a 7th grader, she loved to participate as a Junior Mentor. The SCFG experience developed and strengthened her understanding and learning of the scientific processes and her confidence and potential in a field that certainly could be intimidating in the regular school setting.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the enthusiasm and confidence showed by the participant girls during their presentations and science fairs.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the enthusiasm, passion and confidence of the girls showing their "discoveries".
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
dedicated and passionate about promoting the understanding of scientific knowledge and inspiring self-confidence in the girls.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
strengthen its current sites with more volunteers and staff and purchasing more supplies. It also could consider expand its program to more schools and children and even offer scholarships or incentives for girls to pursue scientific careers.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every six months
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
August 25, 2010
Science Club for Girls has afforded my daughter a highly valuable opportunity to experience science initiatives first hand, by offering hands on learning. A SCFG member since kindergarten--now a rising 7th grader; she is confident, determined and excited about exploring a career in forensic sciences. She's also developed friendships within the program-- friendships that are supportive, fun and proven longevity. SCFG consistently demonstrates to young girls that potential is a steppingstone to exciting possibilities.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the growth of my middle schooler's science proficiency, her zeal for delving into research and her confidence in attacking new challenges.
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
August 16, 2010
Science Club for Girls gives girls an opportunity to explore science in a way that is challenging and engaging, while being mentored by older girls and adult women scientists. For my 9 year old daughter, who has always been interested in science and engineering, it gives her a chance to experience success in something that she loves. SCFG is great for all kinds of girls, but for our daughter, who is not interested in some of the more traditional after school activities for girls, it has been a unique and wonderful experience.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Our daughter's love for the program, and the overall engagement that we see at SCFG events
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How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
August 13, 2010
Try to find an afterschool that focuses on science exploration, literacy, confidence, and mentorship for girls as young as 5 years old and there's not much. Most offer programs beginning around the middle school age through high school. But Science Club for Girls has been able to do this and do it well. Giving girls a space to be curious, hands-on and inquisitive cannot always be achieved in a co-ed classroom, but SCFG features this unique environment and naturally unleashes this side in the girls! The program is ingeniously tiered so that a girl can move through the program over the years and experience various aspects such as Club Participant, Junior Mentor - supporting a Mentor Scienctist to run a club (grade 8-12), Summer Intern- teaching science at Cambridge/Boston area day camps, Rocket Team Member - enter the Junior Rocketry Competition (9th-12th), or Mentor Scientist- leading her own club (11th & 12th grade). A touching moment I remember from one particular club session was one girl told me that she had started a science club at home with her friends, inspired by SCFG. They collected bugs and enjoys science programs together!
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the afterschool clubs that they run in Cambridge, Lawrence, Boston and Newton.
More feedback...
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
seeing the girls learn and make connections.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
dedicated.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
develop stronger curriculum, purchase more supplies, and expand sites.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
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