The Girl Scouts of USA (GSA) are interested in exposing scouts to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) career fields which have been traditionally dominated by men. In 2011, GSA released a report on girls' perceptions of STEM fields and their self-efficacies of such fields. I am excited to participate in the University of Pennsylvania Campus Scouts event, GUTS: Girls Understanding Technology and Science Day, this Saturday to bring architecture to a group of Junior Girl Scouts. We will spend the day together to consider what architects do, the disparities between male and female architects, and to create ideas for great spaces.
(1) Participants will have an understanding of what architects do.
(2) Participants will have an understanding of the male/female ratios among the profession today.
(3) Participants will answer questions about spaces that they experience daily.
(4) Participants will design a meeting space to suit their personal style and troop specific needs.
In addition to exposing the girls to the architectural profession, the day will benefit my thesis as the girls participate in a charrette to develop meeting spaces.
(1) Interacting with scouts at the GUTS event will provide insight regarding scouts' perceptions of their current meeting spaces and preferences for updated meeting spaces.
(2) Conversations with older scouts will address what provisions of facilities would keep them interested in the organization throughout high school.
(3) Discussions with volunteer leaders will uncover any facilities they need to better administer troop activities.
We will spend some time talking about the spaces the girls experience everyday -- their classrooms, bedrooms, and where they meet with their scout troops. We will brainstorm what the most important aspects of these spaces are and consider some big ideas for an awesome scout facility in Center City.
For the charrette, the girls will start with a shell drawing that they can collage, write, or draw in what they would like in their meeting spaces. I have put a few examples together for them to consider.
I hope that, in addition, to the research I have compiled so far, the girls will be able to help to define the heart of the building I will design for them. The girls will work independently, but will be encouraged to bounce ideas off one another to get their creative juices flowing. I am pumped to introduce them to the idea of charrettes as a brainstorming methodology. It may be uncomfortable for some of them, but in the words of my friend the Underdog Architecture Student, "if at first you don't charrette…charrette, charrette, charrette!"
I will share what the girls come up with as soon as I can and appreciate any advice on keeping the attention of eleven-year-olds before this weekend!