Our Promise, June 2021

A Leader in Youth Robotics Through Girl Scouts, girls as young as Kindergarten are introduced to the world of robotics with a robust and forward-thinking STEM program.

At Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, we strive to build confident and resilient women who know what they want and, more importantly, know how to blaze trails to achieve their goals—especially when those goals take them into professional fields that have been traditionally male-dominated. This is particularly important when it comes to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), where research shows that the reason few girls pursue STEM careers is not tied to their STEM ability or aptitude but rather to their self- confidence and perception of their STEM abilities. Since 2009, our partnership with FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) has encouraged a love of STEM and Robotics in more than 3,000 Girl Scouts in eastern Missouri. The mission of the FIRST® program is to inspire young people, through competitive Robotics teams, to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting mentor- based programs that build STEM skills. The experience also motivates innovation and fosters well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication and leadership. We consider it our duty and our privilege to introduce girls to the concepts of STEM from a young age. One of the ways that we do this is by supporting up to 91 competitive FIRST® Robotics teams each year and watching our eastern Missouri Girl Scouts hone technical We are proud of all of our Robotics teams and the fearless team members who put their leadership education to the test with each robotics masterpiece they create. The FIRST LEGO League (grades 4-8) project challenges are guided by a real-world, scientific theme. The 2019-2020 theme of City Shaper challenged its players to work together to address architectural designs that could improve the welfare of the immediate community. Team Robo Girls took on the issues of safety in their parks in the evening. Robo Girls researched glow-in-the-dark paint that can be applied to running/walking trails allowing for improved visibility. The team has recently submitted a proposal to their City Council for the implementation of this paint.

skills that will serve them for years to come. This year we welcomed the youngest members of the Girl Scout Robotics family with an all-new Kindergarten category— FIRST® LEGO League Discover. Building on the concept of LEGO’s “Six Brick Curriculum,” FLL Discover teams awaken their creative problem-solving, and critical thinking skills by performing simple, physical coding exercises using Duplo LEGOs. Elevated self- confidence and increased comprehension are among the transformative benefits for girls in this particular age group. Eight Discover level teams were recruited (40 Girl Scouts) in Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri’s first year of Robotics programming at this level to great reviews. A member of one of our Discover teams, the Winter Cheetahs, perhaps says it best: “I love robotics because I can draw and build using all of my own ideas and opinions.” As we kick off our Launch into Girl Scouts program for those Kindergartners preparing for their Daisy years, we are excited to share with them the wonder of STEM and the opportunities that await them, upon their Girl Scout registration, with the FIRST® Robotics program.