Girl Scouts explore STEM in fashion at Ohio camp

GALLOWAY, Ohio — There’s a lot of things that have to happen in order for us to have clothes to wear every single day.

But did you know that a lot of fields under the umbrella of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) actually contribute to that process? At a very special summer camp in central Ohio, Girl Scouts learned what exactly about STEM makes fashion a success.

Sixth-grader Averylyn Schriner, a member of Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland chapter, has always been intrigued by science.

“I’ve just always been drawn to science,” Schriner said. “The way things such as chemicals just mix together and you can get something else! Many people, when they think of engineering, they think of like technology and welding. But technically, engineering can be like anything that has building.”

It’s this passion that led this Schriner to choose a different sort of summer camp offered by Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland, which focuses solely on careers in STEM.

This week, girls that are in fourth to eighth grade learned how fashion “stems” from things they already love, like the arts. The week-long camp allows these Girl Scouts to learn more about the different types of STEM fields that intertwine with the fashion industry, working in a setting that allows them to brainstorm as a team.

“I noticed was they felt more confident doing STEM when there was art involved, because it’s something they felt very familiar with. So through getting to merge technology with fashion, they’re already familiar with sewing and friendship bracelet making but then adding things in like printing custom beads,” said Audrey Mapley-Sanford, the STEM Program Manager for Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland.

During the five day camp, the girls got opportunities to partake in different types of activities. This included using a 3D printing machine to make accessories, sketching out designs and learning more about how skills in engineering, math and chemistry, can make or break an outfit.

“For example, they learn how to do measurements and how to do the math behind creating a scent. It adds this extra layer to it where they’re like, ‘Wait a second, a lot of the things I do are actually STEM,” Mapley-Sanford said. “Here at Girl Scouts, we want these girls to feel like they can make change in the world, and they have a say that them doing science will mean something. 

When Schriner was asked what was one of her favorite things she learned at camp, she shared she was impressed at how many everyday things have some part of STEM within them.

“It just blows my mind. Let’s say you don’t have a string that does well in water and you’re trying to create a bathing suit; if it’s not the right string, then the fabric will let go. You have to have technology and science to make a perfect outfit,” Schriner said.

Jordan Titus is a Junior Girl Scout that attended camp, and she shared that she enjoyed making new friends, while learning new skills that will last a lifetime.

“I liked the 3-D printing, and how my friends make new things. It was super cool,” Titus said.

There are so many other STEM camps happening this summer at the STEM Leadership Center and Maker Space at Camp Ken-Jockety. The camp themes range from environmental science to learning about forensic science.

If you’d like more information, click here.