New Mini-Grants Awarded to Pacific Northwest Organizations
The Pacific Northwest Girls Collaborative Project is proud to announce the latest mini-grant awardees. Please check out the projects to learn more about the great work happening at these organizations. Mini- grant awardees will provide outcome information and presentations at the next PNWGCP event.

Epic Science for Champions
Collaborating Organizations: Kauai Community College, American Association of University Women, and Hawaii State Science Olympiad
Girls Served: Grade 6-8
Epic Science for Champions is our student club designed with the goal of providing a time and place for students interested in creating projects towards statewide science competitions. Last year we had 30 students at two locations (Waimea Canyon MS and Kauai Com. College) join the clubs and 18 compete in statewide competitions.

ACE the Summer 2009
Collaborating Organizations: ACE Academy, and Oregon Building Congress
Girls Served: Grades 6-12
Oregon Building Congress (OBC), in collaboration with community partners, will develop and implement a summer academy focused on the fields of architecture, construction and engineering. The three- week program will target 30 female and minority students to learn about the construction professions as they are taught at the Academy for Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE Academy) - through hands-on, project-based learning with a solid emphasis on math.

Girls and Latinos in Robotics
Collaborating Organizations: Oregon University System Industry Affairs, Hillsboro School District, and Hillsboro/Forest Grove AAUW/Pacific University's Center for Women and Gender Equity
Girls Served: Grades 9-12
Girls and Latinos in Robotics target populations of girls to participate in Robotics Engineering Teams and attend competitions. The program will assist students with team development and problem-solving in a team environment, as well as provide an informal learning environment that attracts students to STEM. The girls will also work with mentors to promote girls' interest in STEM.

Involving Girls in Exhibit Development: An OMSI- Gi
Collaborating Organizations: Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and Girls Inc. of NW Oregon
Girls Served: Grades K-8
OMSI worked with Girls Inc. to create a one-day event for girls (ages 9-13) to visit the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and participate in the early development of an exhibit proposal for the National Science Foundation (NSF). A major focus of the exhibit proposal is to engage girls in engineering. The event will allowed girls to influence the project while learning more about engineering and the exhibit development process.

It's All About Science
Collaborating Organizations: WSU Southern Oregon University Pre-College Programs and AAUW - Ashland Branch
Girls Served: Grades 6-8
AWSEM (Advocates for Women in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics) Southern Oregon University's symposium for Young Women introduces 100 southern Oregon middle school girls to professional women role models in science, math, engineering, and technology. On a Saturday in April 2010, participants will take part in hands-on workshops, attend a luncheon and watch a dynamic scientific presentation.

Making Equity in Computer Science Work in Oregon
Collaborating Organizations: McNary High School, Hillsboro School District, TechStart Education Foundation, and Portland Public Schools
Girls Served: Grades K-8
Share research-based best practices in programs and evaluation from NCWIT Broader Participation in Computing conference, NGCP/NWREL/IES "What Research Tells Us About Encouraging Girls in Math and Science Workshop", classroom and Out-of- School-Time (OST) experience from Oregon high school and university practitioners, and TechStart Education Foundation mini-grant recipients. Plan for further action leveraging these practices in Oregon classrooms and informal learning activities

Dayton TechREACH STEM Clubs
Collaborating Organizations: Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology and AAUW- Dayton, Washington
Girls Served: Grades 6-8
The project will increase middle-school students' participation in Dayton 21st Century After-School Program and increase under-represented students' interest, confidence and achievement in S.T.E.M. subjects and careers.

Rock It: Science
Collaborating Organizations: Pacific Science Center and Girls Rock! Seattle
Girls Served: Grades K-12
The project will teach Girls Rock! Seattle participants a proven and established curriculum that covers the physics of sound, electricity and magnetism and electronics. The girls will apply the content knowledge gained through this program to understand the key physical and engineering concepts behind how their instruments work, and then use this experience first-hand as they create and experiment with new sounds.

Computer Science Education Week is Here!
CSEdWeek was recently designated by the U.S. House of Representatives as the week of December 6-12, 2009 in order to recognize the transformative role of computing and the necessity for rigorous computer science education at all levels. The CSEdWeek website is a hub for computer science education resources and social networking. Spread the word about CSEdWeek and visit the website for ideas on how to celebrate CSEdWeek in your area to promote computer science education.
http://www.csedweek .org/

Free Youth Days at The Museum of Flight
The Museum of Flight is offering free admission for youths 17 and under from Dec. 1 - 20, through a grant from the Norman Archibald Charitable Foundation. As part of the support, an exhibit will introduce the public to the remarkable story of long-time Seattle resident, Norman Archibald, who was a valued Army Air Service Pilot during WWI. http://www.museumofflight.org/event/free- youth-days-supported-norman-archibald-charitable- foundation

WiSE: A Catalyst for Infinite Change
The WiSE conference is extending a call for panel and speaker presentation/workshop sessions. The deadline for proposals is December 30, 2009. The WiSE conference is designed for pre-college (high school), community college, and undergraduate and graduate university students. The conference goal is to empower women who have an interest in engineering, science, and technology fields (STEM) to discover new opportunities, identify personal strengths, and increase their confidence to embark on new academic and professional ventures. Students are provided an opportunity to engage with both industry and academia professionals. For more information on how to apply, please email Cathryne Jordan at jordancl@uw.edu.

Name Change for the Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology
The home of the National Girls Collaborative Project is changing its name to more accurately represent the global nature of our programs and fulfill our mission. We are now EdLab Group and will be expanding our current innovative projects and services as we increase our work in science and engineering and develop programs that address digital inclusion needs.

Celebrate the Holidays With Science!
eGFI was created by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) to be a resource for students, K-12 teachers, informal educators, parents and guardians, and anyone else with an interest in engineering. You can find a variety of engineering activities for all age ranges, including some holiday themed projects such as Gingerbread Architecture.
http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/gingerbread- architecture/

GETREAL with Engineering and Computer Science Careers
GetReal is a collaborative effort between Oregon teachers, Oregon Industry, and the Oregon University System to provide up-to-date engineering and computer science career information that targets high school students. The site offers career information, profiles of real professional women and men, as well as advice for pursuing engineering and computer science in college.
http://getreal.ous.edu/

Monterey Bay Aquarium Promotes Fun and Learning
The Monterey Bay Aquarium, located in Monterey, California, is home to thousands of marine species and is a leader in oceanic conservation efforts and public outreach. Their Fun and Learning webpage has a variety of educational tools and resources for students to learn about marine science and conservation. The site also provides information on science careers important to aquariums, which range from research biologist to graphic designer.
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/lc/kids_plac e/

Expanding Your Horizons
Expandi ng Your Horizons in Science and Mathematics conferences (EYH) nurture girls' interest in science and math courses to encourage them to consider careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). EYH conference information for Washington state can be found at http://eyh.psctlt.org/.
Information for conferences in other states can be found at http://www.expandingyourhorizons.org/about/lo cate.php.

NGCP Program Directory - Register your Program Today!
The online Program Directory lists organizations and programs that focus on motivating girls to pursue STEM careers. The purpose of the directory is to help organizations and individuals network, share resources and collaborate on STEM-related projects for girls. When you sign up for the Program Directory you will enter your program description, resources available within your organization, program and/or organizational needs and contact information.
http://www.ngcproject.org/directory

Americ an Association of University Women (AAUW) members across the country are serving as Regional Liaisons for the National Girls Collaborative Project. These Regional Liaisons help the people involved in the NGCP to make connections - to one another, to resources on gender equity, and to AAUW.