Girls Tech Camp: Librarians Inspire Adolescents to Consider STEM Careers

• Published in: Issues in science and technology librarianship no. 92
• Main Authors: Stapleton, Suzanne C, Royster, Melody, Bharti, Neelam, Birch, Stephanie, Bossart, Jean, Butts, Shannon, Tobin Cataldo, Tara, Gonzalez, Sara Russell, Minson, Valrie, Putnam, Samuel R, Yip, Christine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Science and Technology Section, Association of College and Research Libraries 01-09-2019
• Subjects: Academic Libraries; Adolescents; Career Choice; Creative Activities; Day Camp Programs; Electronic Equipment; Experiential Learning; Females; Librarians; Middle School Students; Program Development; Program Effectiveness; Programming; Science Careers; State Universities; STEM Education; Summer Programs; Florida
• DOI: 10.29173/istl22
• EISSN: 1092-1206

Motivated by a desire to encourage girls to pursue science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) studies, librarians at the Marston Science Library (Marston) at the University of Florida (UF) developed Girls Tech Camp (GTC), a summer camp designed to introduce middle-school girls to creative technologies used in these fields. This week-long summer day camp launched in 2016 and continued in the summers of 2017 and 2018. Each year, the camp brought twenty-two 6th-8th grade girls into an academic science library to build experience with emerging technologies and increase interest in pursuing further studies or a career in STEM. The camp introduced the girls to a range of technologies, including 3D modelling, 3D printing, augmented reality, Arduino microcontrollers, light sensors, digital video production, computer coding, and conductive crafts. Through hands-on activities, guest lectures, and campus field trips, youth interest and confidence in using technology expanded, and participants experienced student and research life at a university. This paper describes the development, operation, and assessment of hosting a camp in an academic library to inspire girls to pursue STEM studies.