Girlstart

Girlstart

Written by Katherine Kennedy Saturday, 07 July 2007

Girlstart makes fun of math and technology.

The backyard to Girlstart is a large, fenced-in activity center with a “dream garden” in the back. For the garden, each girl paints her dream on a rock and plants it in the sand to watch it “grow.” The girls’ dreams range from becoming an astronaut or cop to finding cures for the sick to believing in themselves.

The entire building is designed using trends that appeal to young girls and interest them in the subjects of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), which is the mission of Girlstart.

“There are few women in these fields. Only one third of Computer Science degrees go to women,” Girlstart founder Rachel Muir said. “These fields touch our world and change our lives. We are creating an experience that not only puts math, science and technology within reach, but enables young women to embrace it. To be successful at empowering girls in these fields, we keep everything relevant and exciting.”

Girlstart will be celebrating its tenth anniversary in September. Muir said that when she started Girlstart, technology was gaining momentum and flourishing, but girls weren’t getting the education they would need to work in the field.

The organization, which last year served more than 1,000 girls and close to 1,000 teachers, offers day camps, summer camps and after-school programs. Their STEM lessons go far beyond the traditional flash cards and calculators.

Classes like Hermione’s Science Sampler, a Harry-Potter themed class teaching herbology, or Anchor Girl, where campers direct, produce and star in their own newscast, capture girls’ attention.

Girlstart is different from other non-profit organizations because of its specific mission, according to Muir. She said its clear mission of empowering young girls in STEM is easy to understand and people get it.

“Our core audience is middle school girls, but we serve elementary and high school girls as well. We have had a tremendous impact with the girls so far,” Muir said. “Interest in math, science and technology fields was increased in 96% of our girls. It is critical to get young girls to take algebra early.”

Muir said 77% of three-year participants in the Girlstart program take algebra before high school. This opens opportunities to advanced STEM classes in high school and getting a degree in these fields in college.

She hopes Girlstart will become the most successful program to empower girls in the STEM fields. She wants girls to know that being smart is cool.

“Our number one goal is for the girls to have fun. We want to show them that math, science and technology can be fun,” Muir said. “We hope the girls will do better in these fields and will take advantage of every opportunity because of the strong foundation we have provided.”

Muir’s Awards:

• Named as one of Austin’s Most Loved Women in 2005 by Austin Monthly magazine and a finalist for the 2004 Ethics in Business Awards.
• Recipient of Oprah’s Use Your Life Award.
• Featured on the “Today” show and named in Fast Company magazine as one of the “Fast 50” Leaders in Innovation.
• A finalist in the 2002 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

Girlstart, 1400 W. Anderson Lane, 916-4775, www.girlstart.org

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