Girl Scouts of Nassau County and American Airlines Inspire Future Generation of Women in Aviation

Girl Scouts of Nassau County recently partnered with American Airlines for the third consecutive year to give 150 Girl Scouts a unique opportunity to explore aviation careers alongside the women who perform in these roles every day. From pilots and mechanics to flight attendants and other leaders in aviation – this first-hand experience opened the young girls’ eyes to the countless possibilities that exist in the skies, and offered insight into how to navigate these exciting career pathways. The partnership with American Airlines is part of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County's ongoing mission to expose Girl Scouts to science and technology-related careers and connect them with inspirational role models to help empower them as they explore future careers.

“Programs like Learning to Soar with American Airlines show our girls that the sky’s the limit to their future,” said Rande Bynum, CEO of Girl Scouts of Nassau County. “By partnering with American Airlines, the girls had opportunity to spend the day learning from women who are leading in aviation and see firsthand that these careers are within reach. Watching their excitement as they asked questions and explored every corner of the airport was a reminder of why we do this work.”

“Each year American Airlines looks forward to the annual Girl Scouts event held at LaGuardia Airport as an opportunity to educate and empower young girls to explore the endless possibilities within aviation,” said Yu Lee, American Airlines Managing Director of LGA Operations. “Our team members take pride in inspiring the future generation of female leaders by sharing our knowledge, expertise and mentorship that the girls can carry with them well beyond this one-day experience.”

More than 150 Girl Scouts from across Nassau County, Suffolk County, New York City and Westchester gathered at LaGuardia Airport, where they boarded a plane, taxied the runway, learned about the science of flight and spoke directly with women in the industry about their career journeys. This is the third year Girl Scouts of Nassau County has partnered with American Airlines to provide young girls the opportunity to explore careers in fields they might not normally experience or find themselves exploring. Partnerships like these are critical in helping fulfill Girl Scouts of Nassau County’s mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.

“I’m so excited because I’m learning about all the different parts of a plane,” said Faith S, a local Girl Scout. “What they do, the technical abilities, it’s all just so interesting because this is something I never thought I’d have the opportunity to do.”

This aviation program exemplified the Girl Scouts’ commitment to introducing girls to inspiring role models, while exploring career paths in science, technology, engineering and math. Year-round opportunities include the annual STEM Conference, STEM-focused Badges and hands-on programs in partnership with leading women role models across Long Island.

For more information about Girl Scouts of Nassau County, upcoming programs, and how to get involved, visit www.gsnc.org.