Jobs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math are still largely dominated by men, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. That’s the message from organizers of the third annual 4G camp in Peoria.
The program hopes to attract more women to local careers in STEM by offering early exposure to role models and experiences in those fields.
Organizers say about 40 middle school girls meet with local professionals in STEM fields and do hands-on activities like robotics and programming during the week long camp next month.
Sherri Morris co-directs the center for STEM education and teaches biology at Bradley University. Morris says results from student placement on STEM field exams show that girls in the US aren’t performing as well as those in other countries.
“The data suggests that it has more to do with exposure in those areas and support for education, rather than innate skill,” Morris said.
Morris says part of the problem is girls, compared to their male counterparts, still don't have as many opportunities to engage with STEM material outside of the classroom.
The 4G program gives middle school girls exposure to STEM careers in the local area as well as hands-on activities that supplement classroom learning. The program focuses on middle schoolers, so they have an early exposure to STEM long before select high school and college classes.
U of I Extension Educator Kathleen Brown says part of the career pipeline program encourages families to engage with summer camp participants when they return home.
“So it becomes not only a learning experience for the young girls that are participating, but hopefully the families as well become more knowledgeable of the resources and the opportunities right here in our own backyard,” Brown said.
Brown says the camp that starts July 11 still has spots and scholarship fundsavailable for interested students. The week-long itinerary includes opportunities to meet professionals in the field at local employers, like Caterpillar and Jump Trading Simulation Center.
The 4G camp stands for "girls + games + gadgets = genius." It's a collaborative initiative of Bradley University, the University of Illinois Extension and the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council.