Date:  August 9, 2007

CONTACT:  Mary Riherd Broomfield, Marketing and Public Relations Director
                (626) 445-7771, ext. 313, mbroomfield@gsmwvc.org

GSI: Girl Scouts Investigate
Weekend Program Immerses Girl Scouts in Crime Scene Investigations




Junior Girl Scouts are invited to register for an innovative new program offered by Girl Scouts – Mt. Wilson Vista Council that explores the science behind crime scene investigation.

For an entire weekend in October, Junior Girl Scouts will have the opportunity to step into the role of Crime Scene Investigators in a pilot program the council is sponsoring in collaboration with Girl Scouts of the USA.

GSI: Girl Scouts Investigate is one of the new programs the council is hosting as part Girl Scouts’ commitment to providing greater opportunities for girls to explore and enjoy science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Girls participating in this thrilling GSI weekend will find themselves immersed in the “crime scene” of a fictitious death and the clues left behind.  They will spend two days of investigation in a highly exciting, engaging and educational experience.  By conducting hands-on forensic science tests on evidence found at the scene, girl sleuths will use a multitude of critical thinking skills and directly experience both real-life applications of science and the joys of scientific exploration.

Fingerprinting, DNA comparisons, footprints, and handwriting analysis are among the forensic analysis tests to be performed, along with experiments in voice printing, hair and fiber analysis and examination of microorganisms. Throughout the weekend, girls will learn to distinguish between evidence and inference, and combined with their forensic analyses and critical thinking, they will solve the mystery of the crime.

GSI: Girl Scouts Investigate will be held at Hill-Harbison House in San Marino from October 5, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. until October 7 at 3:00 p.m. The $100.00 fee includes all meals and supplies for the weekend.  Scholarships are available.

This program is the latest in a growing number of STEM programs for Girl Scouts.  Today, Girl Scouts offers 75 badges in the STEM subjects, and locally, Mt. Wilson Vista Council partners with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA, and the Night Sky Network of Astronomers on a variety of programs. Mt. Wilson Vista Council is located in a STEM-rich region and has enjoyed partnerships with organizations that are also committed to encouraging girls to explore and pursue education and careers in the STEM fields.  Details will be announced soon for the inaugural Family Science Festival set for fall, 2007.

For more information about the GSI weekend and other STEM programs, contact Susan Hill at (626) 445-7771, ext. 326, or shill@gsmwvc.org.  To register for this and other programs, visit the GSMWVC Web site, www.gsmwvc.org.


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