Girl Scouts of the USA and Netflix come together to empower girls to explore STEM subjects

Despite initial interest in STEM fields, nearly 50 percent of girls feel that STEM isn't a typical career path for them, and interest fades as they move through middle and high school.¹ To celebrate the organization's focus on leading like a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ and encourage the pursuit of STEM subjects like those featured in Project Mc², leaders from GSUSA and Netflix were joined by female representatives from Google, Instagram, and Twitter to kick off She Rules: STEM on Tuesday evening, October 4. Girl Scout troops from Silicon Valley, representing Girl Scouts of Northern California, were invited to Netflix headquarters in Los Gatos, California to hear from real-world STEM experts and learn how their pursuit of STEM fields led to rewarding and unexpected careers. Additionally, the Girl Scouts got a sneak peek of season three of Project Mc² and put their STEM skills to the test through hands-on experiments inspired by the show.

"As a lifelong Girl Scout who grew up to pursue rocket science, I know the impact our program can have on girls interested in STEM," said Sylvia Acevedo, interim CEO of Girls Scouts of the USA. "My Girl Scout experience was a key element in empowering me to enter the engineering field when most females didn't pursue STEM. I am so thrilled to work with Netflix to ensure more girls have the interest, drive, and determination to pursue and lead in STEM-related fields."

From showing girls how STEM subjects are woven throughout their everyday lives to introducing girls to STEM enthusiasts like the cast of Project Mc², the new STEM Superstars Guide provides Girl Scout volunteers nationwide with the tools they need to keep girls' passions and curiosity for STEM subjects alive. The guide shows just how easy it is to make STEM matter for young girls with conversation starters, troop activities, and examples of STEM role models.

"As a mother of two Girl Scouts, I'm especially proud that there are shows on Netflix like Project Mc² that celebrate young girls' enthusiasm in STEM subjects," said Shauna Spenley, vice president of North America Marketing, Netflix. "By working with an organization like GSUSA to extend the girl power message that is so central to Project Mc² off the screen, we are able to inspire the next generation of gadget gurus and culinary chemists."

Netflix is proud to support girls in STEM with shows that authentically reflect real girls and women by elevating individuality and giving empowering characters a place to be seen. Project Mc² aims to encourage girls to embrace their passions for learning and exploring like McKeyla McAlister (problem solver and leader), Adrienne Attoms (culinary chemist), Bryden Bandweth (tech genius), Camryn (engineer extraordinaire), Devon D'Marco (artist and creative) and Ember Evergreen (green thumb).

Girls can also continue to explore STEM subjects by participating in unique G.I.R.L.-led experiences and other opportunities offered through Girl Scouts. To learn more about joining or volunteering, please visit www.girlscouts.org/join.

We're Girl Scouts of the USA
We're 2.7 million strong—1.9 million girls and 800,000 adults who believe girls can change the world. It began over 100 years ago with one woman, Girl Scouts' founder Juliette Gordon "Daisy" Low, who believed in the power of every girl. She organized the first Girl Scout troop on March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia, and every year since, we've made her vision a reality, helping girls discover their strengths, passions, and talents. Today we continue the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. We're the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. And with programs for girls from coast to coast and across the globe, Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to do something amazing. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.girlscouts.org.

About Netflix
Netflix is the world's leading Internet television network with over 83 million members in over 190 countries enjoying more than 125 million hours of TV shows and movies per day, including original series, documentaries and feature films. To learn more, visit Netflix.com.

¹ Girl Scout Research Institute, Generation STEM: http://www.girlscouts.org/content/dam/girlscouts-gsusa/forms-and-documents/about-girl-scouts/research/generation_stem_summary.pdf  

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161005/415407

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SOURCE Girl Scouts of the USA

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