Empowering High School Girls in a University-Led STEM Summer Camp

Women are less likely to choose STEM educational programs, hold degrees, or enter the labor force. Several factors contribute this including intrinsic psychological factors, external environmental variables, academic mindsets, and attitudes. This paper discusses a 10-day long camp aimed at engaging high school girls in authentic field-based research. The goal of is foster encourage interest fields through hands-on laboratory experiences, discussions with female scientists, field trips, broad range research-focused scientific activities. descriptive research study used observational qualitative quantitative data better understand improve future informal experiences for school-aged girls. Results found that were more see themselves exposure research, fieldwork, final presentations promoted self-efficacy confidence their ability undertake university-level Finally, provided place engage other females social collaboration.