Math and science can be very coo, especially for girls. That
’s the message Sally Ride, America’s first woman in space, is
encouraging with her second year of science camps for girls
entering grades 6 through 9 at Stanford University.
Math and science can be very coo, especially for girls. That’s the message Sally Ride, America’s first woman in space, is encouraging with her second year of science camps for girls entering grades 6 through 9 at Stanford University.
Sally Ride Science Camps and Galileo Educational Services developed the camp to offer girls the opportunity to explore science and have fun in an inspiring environment. The overnight program provides the perfect venue for middle school girls to deepen their interest in science, meet other girls with similar interests, and be introduced to female role models pursuing science and engineering careers.
“According to the latest statistics, 8 of the 10 fastest growing occupations are science or technology related, yet women make up only 19% of the technical workforce,” said Ride, Founder, President and CEO of Imaginary Lines, Inc. “We developed this camp specifically for middle school girls because that is the age when many girls begin to drift from their natural interests in science. Our mission is to keep them in the technical pipeline.”
Jim Plummer, Dean of the Stanford School of Engineering, serves as the program’s faculty sponsor. Campers will live on campus and eat their meals in Stanford’s dining halls. “Stanford University is committed to encouraging more young women to pursue careers in science and engineering,” said Plummer. “We are very proud to host the Sally Ride Science Camp.”
“This program is the result of a unique partnership between Imaginary Lines, Galileo, and Stanford,” said Glen Tripp, Founder and CEO of Galileo Educational Services. “We are honored to play a role in this effort to reduce gender inequity in the sciences.”
Sally Ride Science Camp has tapped Camilla Lau as Director of the program. An experienced and enthusiastic science teacher at Castilleja School, an all-girls school in California, Lau discovered her passion for teaching as a course assistant at Stanford University, where she earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biological Sciences.
“At Castilleja, I’ve been dedicated to keeping girls motivated and excited about science, so I’m thrilled to be leading the Sally Ride Science Camp this summer,” said Lau. “During camp, we hope girls will be inspired by the fact that science really is cool and that there are so many interesting and amazing women who are scientists and engineers. Our campers will see that they could very well be one of them.”
The Camp will serve nearly 400 girls with a six to one student to staff ratio. For half of their day, campers will focus on one of three majors – astronomy, mechanical engineering or oceanography. The other half of the day’s activities will include sports, field trips and team building activities. At least four special guests will visit the camp each week to lead discussions and join in on meals. These guests will be leaders from Stanford University and various science, technology and engineering organizations. Last year, guest speakers ranged from Meg Whitman, CEO of EBAY, to Sylvia Johnson, Chief of NASA’s Thermal Protection Materials and Systems Branch. As part of the speaker series, Sally Ride will talk with the girls through conference call or video-conference.
Marie Alftin, a camper from last year, was bowled over by her week at Sally Ride Science Camp. “This camp was amazing,” said Alftin. “I got to do fun science experiments and hang out at Stanford for a week with cool scientists and other girls who love science.”
The camp fees, which include room and board in secure, supervised dedicated dormitories on the Stanford campus, are $1050 per session prior to March 1, 2003 and $1100 after March 1. A number of need-based scholarships will be offered through the Galileo Campership Program. Interested families can learn more at www.SallyRideCamps.com/stanford or by calling Galileo at 1-888-472-4386.
Imaginary Lines was founded by astronaut Sally Ride to support the large numbers of girls and young women who are, or might become, interested in science, math, and technology. The company organizes quality events, programs and activities for girls that empower them, engage them and encourage those interests. Programs include the Sally Ride Science Festivals; Sally Ride Science Camps; TOYchallenge™; and the Sally Ride Science Club™.
For more information on the Sally Ride Science Camp, www.SallyRideCamps.com or call
1-888-472-4386. For information on Imaginary Lines, visit www.ImaginaryLinesInc.com .
Galileo Educational Services’ mission is to provide opportunities for young people to discover and pursue their passions. Through collaboration with world-class organizations and individuals such as The Tech Museum of Innovation, Klutz, Inc., and astronaut Sally Ride, Galileo inspires thousands of children each summer through unique summer programs. Galileo operates Camp Galileo, Sally Ride Science Camp at Stanford, and The Tech Museum Summer Camps. To learn more visit: www.galileoed.com
