Fall 2018 brought two exceptional STEM opportunities for girls in the Omaha area, and gainingSTEAM was proud to be part of both.
Girl Powered Build Day at Henry Doorly Zoo
On Saturday, October 6, 2018, gainingSTEAM hosted the Omaha Girl Powered Build Day at Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium's Robert B. Daugherty Education Center. The event was held at capacity — a sign of just how much interest exists in hands-on STEM experiences for girls in our community.
Agenda:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 9:00–9:15 AM | Arrival and check-in |
| 9:15–9:30 AM | Walk through the Zoo to the Aquarium STEM Panel |
| 9:30–10:00 AM | Local Female Leaders in STEM Panel — women in STEM and robotics share their careers |
| 10:00 AM | Hands-on VEX IQ robot building — each participant built and drove her own robot |
The message was clear: the world needs more women in STEM leadership, and it starts with giving girls the chance to get their hands on the tools.
Girls in Aviation Day at UNO
Following the zoo event, gainingSTEAM shared another opportunity with participants. The UNO Women in Aviation Chapter offered a free Girls in Aviation Day on Saturday, October 20, from 10:00 AM to noon — limited to the first 30 girls in grades 3–8 to register.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, October 20, 2018 |
| Time | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Location | UNO Campus, CPACS Building 045 |
| Cost | FREE |
| Grades | 3–8 |
| Capacity | First 30 registrants |
Participants planned a flight, learned the parts of an airplane, and explored careers in aviation. The program included possible flight simulator access and was sponsored by the NASA Nebraska Space Grant.
The participants who built robots at the Zoo on October 6 were exactly the audience that needed to hear about flying planes two weeks later. gainingSTEAM shares STEM opportunities across Nebraska to help students and families discover where their curiosity can take them.