GIRLS Rock

GIRLS Rock is an after-school club, which utilizes exciting experiments and activities as a means to build scientific skills in female and non-binary elementary students. The leaders of the club are high school volunteers who will act as relatable and inspiring mentors to the students. The "GIRLS" part of the club name is an acronym that stands for "Girls in Real Life Science". Put together the title clearly represents one of the club's core values, to foster the confidence that "Girls in Real Life Science Rock!" The activities and challenges are engaging and hands-on while also being focused on the student's own interests. While GIRLS Rock is scientifically focused, the values are more specifically based on the growth of female voices in STEM. This program helps elementary-age, female or non-binary students discover a passion for learning more about the world. 

There are some STEM camps/classes for young girls, but the majority of them cost money to attend. This is an extremely devastating problem, as it continues to limit entry into STEM fields rather than expanding it. GIRLS Rock is free to attend, allowing those who are in difficult financial situations to still attend. Additionally, this is the only girls science program at Montclair Elementary School, and it’s location being at the actual school is very convenient for parents who work.