Girlstart Summer Camps Launch Soon In Sunnyvale

PALO ALTO, CA — It takes more than girls on a soccer field to get a leg up on making a difference in this world — at least academically.

But beyond the male-dominated sports world, it takes girls having an interest in the career fields responsible for improving our world with a team spirit undaunted by obstacles that get in the way of far-reaching goals. That's why a big push is underway to educate students, in particular girls as early as elementary school, in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines that spell out "STEM."

Enter Girlstart. With its "STEM" summer camps starting July 22, the nonprofit educational organization is on a mission to advance fourth- to eighth-grade girls in fields that at times may be intimidating to those who think they're all about boys.

Is science becoming more cool for girls?

"STEM classes have made it more popular, and there's definitely more awareness — especially with the fact that programs are filling up in many areas. Now statistics are showing that girls in high school are advancing in math and science. For some reason in college, they're more discouraged by social biases,"" said Itzel Gutierrez, Girlstart's national programs manager. "The key is to give them the confidence."

Apparently, starting them early is another factor to ensuring success.

Young girls in the program have created the means to develop robots, grown vegetables in a space environment, built new navigational systems and drafted plans to curb pollution.

"I'm always impressed with how well the girls do," Gutierrez said.

And yes, much like Team USA, Gutierrez pointed out a "big part of the camp in learning to work as a team."

Founded in Austin, Tex., Girlstart summer camps enhance the students' learning ability in an informal environment through hands-on activities in a program set in the heart of the tech world — Sunnyvale. Sure, there are STEM-based programs popping up left and right.

Girlstart provides a research-based, purposeful approach that gives girls the big picture of the future and how to be a part of it. Girlstart has not only worked for gender barriers. It's worked through language obstacles. The key lies in nurturing the girls tendencies to be curious, think creatively and follow their passions. Since 1997, Girlstart has served more than 28,000 students.

A slate of new, all-day classes scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. are divided in two camps. The third- through fifth-graders' sessions run from July 22-26 and July 29-Aug. 2. The sixth- and seventh-graders may sign up for a July 29-Aug. 2 session.

Girlstart's Summer Camps are funded through Dell, NASA, Overdeck Family Foundation, Applied Materials, Oracle, TE Connectivity and AstraZeneca.

The Columbia Neighborhood Center handles all registration for Girlstart’s Summer Camps in Sunnyvale. More information on the program is available on Girlstart's website.