OC Register: Bravo! For so many OC residents celebrating achievements and hard work in their communities
December 12, 2024
Orange County Girl Scouts have a new STEM-focused resource available to them.
Girl Scouts show off what their new 3D printer can create. The printer is part of Girl Scouts of Orange County’s new STEM-focused Makerspace at the Argyros Girl Scout Leadership Center in Newport Beach. (Courtesy of Girl Scouts of Orange County)
Girl Scouts of Orange County’s Makerspace got its official kickoff at the Argyros Girl Scout Leadership Center in Newport Beach. The space is equipped with a 3D printer, an xTool laser cutter, a Cricut cutting machine and a Cricut heat press, as well as other consumables and tools, giving GSOC’s 15,000-plus girls free access to the equipment to ignite their imagination, spark learning and build critical skills.
Girl Scouts of Orange County’s new Makerspace activities feature real-world STEM connections, like these Magnetiles that Girl Scout Savannah N. is using. (Courtesy of Girl Scouts of Orange County)
GSOC’s Makerspace gives girls a safe space to learn, make and use the equipment in an all-girl environment. It’s available seven days a week to all troops throughout the county via GSOC’s reservation system. Additional equipment, including a screen-printing machine and an InvenTable cardboard cutter, will be added to the Makerspace.
The stark gender gap in STEM careers is a pressing concern, with women significantly underrepresented in fields that shape the future. According to the National Center for Science and Engineering, only 10.9% of inventors who filed patents with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2022 were female.
In response to this disparity, GSOC’s Makerspace offers a dynamic environment where girls can engage in hands-on learning, experiment with new ideas and bring their creations to life. With the Makerspace, they develop not only technical skills but also resilience and confidence, recognizing the impact of their contributions to society and igniting a passion for innovation.
