Girl Scouts first annual 'Imagine Astronomy' family night | Events

Do you like to gaze at the stars?  Did you find yourself doing it as a kid, and now have children of your own that are doing the same thing?  Maybe you have a daughter that is interested in the stars and making it a career, but don't know how to go about doing it?  Then this Girl Scout event can help.

In the first annual 'Imagine Astronomy' family night, the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona will be providing an opportunity many young girls don't get, a chance to see the stars.  There will be telescope viewing, hands-on activities and a celebration of female pioneers in Astronomy. 

The event is $5 per girl and family members (female) are free, so the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona is encouraging all Girl Scouts to bring their moms, sisters, aunts, cousins and grandmas too, to enjoy the show. 

WHEN:  May 30 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

WHERE:  Double R Arena, Rio Rico (320 Stable Lane, 85648)

This Imagine Astronomy Family Night will expand a girls’ universe in a whole new way.  The idea for the event is led by Girl Scout STEM Director, Michelle Higgins, and Planetary Science Institute’s Senior Education Specialist Larry Lebofsky.  This program will present experiments and demonstrations to supplement formal science curriculum and provide activities that can be easily repeated at home.  

“Astronomy Night really allows girls and families to see that everyone can be a scientist and that science is truly all around us!" said Michelle Higgins with undisguised enthusiasm.  "Another unique aspect of our program is its emphasis on family centered learning. We encourage the whole family to take part and create their own science experience, integrating both personal and cultural notions to help make science more relevant to their everyday life.”

Girl Scouts has a long history of engaging girls in STEM activities and encouraging girls to pursue STEM interests both in and outside of the classroom.  Despite recent gains some gender barriers still persist, and this field is one of them.

According to Girl Scout Research Institute’s Generation STEM Report about half of all girls feel that STEM isn’t a typical career path for girls. Some 57 percent of girls say that if they went into a STEM career, they felt like they would have to work harder than a man just to be taken seriously.

Imagine Astronomy is one of many Girl Scout offerings that hopes to debunk this myth by introducing girls to those working in the field and showing that science is just as much for girls as it is for boys.

Parents, other family members, teachers, mentors, and advocates for girls can help with STEM education and exposure, as well as encouragement, so that girls develop the assets they need to take on and excel in these world-changing careers now and in the future. If you have an explorer, budding scientist in your family or are simply looking to try new things, come to Imagine Astronomy Family Night and see for yourself how much fun astronomy can be!

For more information on Imagine Astronomy contact Michelle Higgins, STEM Director at mhiggins@girlscoutssoaz.org.