The Cyber Innovation Center and its National Integrated Cyber Education Research Center (NICERC) have partnered with the Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council to bring a collaborative STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and cyber training for both adults and Girl Scouts in the San Bernardino area.

Why is this so exciting? Because the Cyber Innovation Center normally only works with teachers! For the first time ever, they’re offering their expertise to girls, leaders and parents – we couldn’t be luckier! Even if your child is not a Girl Scout (or even a girl) this is invaluable training for any parent. In fact, all parents are invited!

This coming weekend, August 21-23, 2015, NICERC’s team of subject matter experts and master teachers will facilitate two one-day workshops for Girl Scout troop leaders and parents, as well as two one-day workshops for the Girl Scouts. Participating adults and Girl Scouts will receive the first-ever STEM Patch awarded by the Cyber Innovation Center.

Kevin Nolten, the Academic Outreach Coordinator for the Cyber Innovation Center, says, “NICERC’s national model for cyber education, paired with the Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council’s pioneering efforts in STEM and cyber education, will empower troop leaders to be a catalyst of innovation for Girl Scouts in Southern California thus broadening their horizons to new opportunities in the future.”

The one-day trainings will feature NICERC’s STEM: Explore, Discover, Apply (STEM EDA) curricula. The STEM EDA curricula is modular in nature and is designed around the engineering design process, which will introduce the Girl Scouts to a logical and critical thinking process applicable across all facets of life.

Carrie Raliegh, STEM Program Manager for the Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council, says, “This is a wonderful and amazing opportunity to further the education of our Girl Scouts and to begin developing the leaders of the future!” Raliegh adds, “The Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council is proud to offer girls the unique opportunity to identify and support issues that are important to them; form partnerships with other people, businesses, and organizations; and create sustainable projects that change the world around them.”