Girl Scouts start construction on $16 million STEM center in Franklin County

After first announcing its investment in STEM one year ago, the Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland have broken ground on a $16 million facility aimed at attracting more girls to careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The groundbreaking ceremony for the STEM Leadership Center and Maker Space took place Tuesday morning on the morning of May 9 at the scouts' Camp Ken-Jockety in Galloway.

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The nearly 25,000-square-foot center will be constructed on 220 acres with a fall 2024 opening planned. The facility will include: community space; science and technology labs; a maker space for welding, mechanics and carpentry; a larger greenhouse; outdoor learning spaces and more. It will be available for use by schools, nonprofits and community partners.

Also included are renovations to the existing camp's environmental center, which will include a teaching kitchen, Tammy Wharton, president & CEO of the Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland, told The Dispatch.

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“Women have remained underrepresented in STEM fields, but Girl Scouts are creating a paradigm shift,“ Wharton said in a prepared release. “Through this project, Camp Ken-Jockety is transforming into a STEM and in-demand jobs immersive campus. It will become a place of unlimited possibilities, where girls can learn in-demand skills, participate in cutting-edge programs, and lay the foundation for a better economic future.”

Girl Scouts are 'dreaming big'

The center is part of a bigger Girls Scouts goal and program, called Dream Big, which aims to get 2.5 million girls in the STEM pipeline by 2025, according to the Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland, which serves about 16,000 girl scouts.

The groundbreaking "was a long time in coming, and it was exhilarating to be out there with so many community members and so many people that have helped make this possible," Wharton said. "It's amazing to see this project become a reality. Each step gets us closer to helping fill that workforce pipeline."

Wharton knows that by introducing girls early to STEM fields, they can then begin to see themselves as heads of construction companies, architects, engineers or whatever they want to be.

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She's seen that happen. Seen the spark of possibility take off in girls. She knows a 9-year-old who wants to be the first African American female astronaut to walk on the moon. Another hopes to be a doctor and engineer.

"You listen to these girls' dreams and it's our responsibility as Girl Scouts and as a community to make sure we remove barriers so they can gain access to the skills that make them realize their dreams," Wharton said.

Some of those dreams started when girls were making rockets out of 2-liter bottles. They may have failed the first time, but tried again and jumped in glee when the rocket made it off the ground.

"To see her excitement of the success, of all the changes she made, it just touches your heart," Wharton said.

Though women account for just over half of the total workforce, they aren’t well represented in many high-earning fields, including STEM:.

∙ Just 18% of STEM leaders are women

∙ 11% of construction jobs are filled by women

∙ 15% of engineers and architects are women

∙ 6% of welders are women

∙ 12% of computer science degrees are earned by women

"Those numbers are dismal," Wharton said. "We want to make sure it is 51% representation of women in those fields."

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The Girl Scouts aren't doing it alone. They have partnered with people, businesses and groups across the community to raise nearly $13 million of the needed $16 million for the Dream Big project, according to the non-profit.

Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley was among those who attended the groundbreaking.

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“Gender equality in STEM education will help ignite economic growth in Franklin County and beyond, and the Dream Big initiative is an important step forward,” Crawley said in a prepared release. “All children deserve to see themselves as scientists, mathematicians, and leaders. Girl Scouts empowers our girls to envision a better future and creates opportunities for them to dream even bigger.”

At the time plans for the new center were announced last year, several local companies had invested in the center and the goal to get more girls in STEM.

Battelle had invested $3 million, AEP had invested $2 million and Nationwide Foundation had invested $1.5 million.

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Other local corporations that invested included Bath and Body Works, Cardinal Health and M/I Homes Foundation.

"We have $3 million we need to raise yet and we're hoping to do it by the end of the year," Wharton said.

Those interested in donating can visit gsoh.org.

dking@dispatch.com

@DanaeKing

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Girl Scouts begin construction on $16 million STEM center in Galloway