Girls in STEM Shine Across Challenger Learning Centers

October is Girls Lead STEM Month, a time to elevate the voices of girls and young women who are shaping the future of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The national campaign, launched in 2022 with the support of Geena Davis, Miranda Cosgrove, and Katya Echazaretta—the first Mexican-American woman in space—encourages girls to inspire one another and to share what’s needed to close the gaps in STEM equity.

Davis and Cosgrove, both Executive Producers of Mission Unstoppable, have helped bring visibility to women making waves in STEM fields—from zoologists and engineers to astronauts and codebreakers. At Challenger Learning Centers across the country, that same mission comes to life every day. This October, we’re shining a light on how our Centers are helping girls dream big, stay curious, and lead boldly in STEM.

Wheeling, West Virginia: An “Out-of-This-World” Experience

In Wheeling, the YWCA’s annual STEMpowerment Summer Academy teamed up with Challenger Learning Center at Wheeling University to give girls an unforgettable experience.

During their visit, campers participated in the Operation Comet mission, taking on roles as roboticists, biologists, and medical officers to launch a probe onto a nearby comet. They also had the rare opportunity to connect live with Dr. Judith Hayes, Chief Science Officer for NASA’s Human Health and Performance Directorate at Johnson Space Center.

“It was so wonderful to see the girls engaged in STEM activities and to have them experience a live conversation with a woman scientist from NASA,” said Jackie Shia, Director of the Center.

Lori Jones, Executive Director of YWCA Wheeling, added, “Opportunities like this not only expand our students’ understanding of STEM careers but also inspire them to dream big and imagine themselves in these exciting fields. The girls talked about it the remainder of the week!”

San Antonio, Texas: Connecting Students with Space Leaders

In San Antonio, Challenger Learning Center at the Scobee Education Center leads Artemis Academy—a two-phase program designed to keep middle schoolers engaged in STEM throughout the year.

The program partnered with AstraFemina to introduce campers to inspiring female role models in STEM. Over the course of several months, students met with an incredible lineup of women leaders:

• Dr. Liz Warren, Sr. Program Director for the International Space Station
• Dr. Sandra Magnus, engineer and former NASA astronaut
• Lt. Gen. Susan Helms, astronaut and veteran of five spaceflights who once held the world record for longest spacewalk

Each guest shared personal stories of persistence, curiosity, and courage—messages that resonated deeply with the young audience. Campers wrote back afterward:

“I especially appreciated the thoughtful advice you shared and the way you made complex topics feel approachable and exciting.”
“I like that you stayed curious and never gave up. Your job sounds really cool…”
“You are very inspiring, and we are very amazed that you have broken a world record. We will carry on your message to other young females.”

Rick Varner, Director of the Scobee Education Center, sees firsthand the power of these experiences. “We have had former campers come to speak [at Artemis Academy],” he said. “One camper relived her conversation with a former astronaut and recalled being treated so respectfully and attentively by this famous person. She felt that the AstraFemina speaker honestly cared about what she was asking and how she would move forward in her academics and life choices.”

These moments, Varner says, can ignite a sense of belonging and confidence that lasts a lifetime.

Woodstock, Illinois: Girls in STEAM Build Futures Together

At Challenger Learning Center of Woodstock, the annual Girls in STEAM summer camp celebrates women, minorities, and changemakers across science and engineering. Through hands-on learning, campers explore everything from environmental science and chemistry to astronomy and coding.

“The young women that participated in this program were so excited and enthusiastic about learning about all of the ways women have contributed to science, technology, and math,” said Denise Brock, Director of the Woodstock Center. “After learning about some pioneers in each field the campers were given a chance to participate in some of the very same activities. They all walked about with new friends, all ready to take on the world of STEAM now and in their futures.”

Framingham, Massachusetts: A Decade of Partnership and Impact

At Challenger Learning Center at the Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Center, Girls Lead STEM Month is a reminder of the long-term partnerships that sustain impact. For more than a decade, the Center has collaborated with Girls Inc. of Worcester to inspire girls in the region to be strong, smart, and bold.

Together, they helped launch Eureka! MetroWest, an expansion of the Girls Inc. five-year STEM-intensive program that guides 8th–12th grade girls through confidence-building and leadership development in STEM. The McAuliffe Center serves as the physical hub, hosting monthly workshops and summer programs led by STEM professionals and educators.

In 2025, the Center was honored with the Girls Inc. Worcester Outstanding Community Partner Award, recognizing the partnership’s enduring influence:

“Your partnership has been instrumental in creating opportunities for girls to explore STEM, build confidence, and discover their potential. We are so grateful for the impact you’ve made and continue to make in our community.”

Bangor, Maine: Making Coding Accessible

With three years of the program under its belt, Challenger Learning Center of Maine offers two Girls Who Code clubs for students in grades 3–5, designed to build confidence and excitement around computer science. The Intro to Coding Club welcomes beginners with no prior experience, utilizing the Girls Who Code curriculum and Scratch programming to introduce the basics of coding and demonstrate how creativity and technology connect. The Continuation in Coding Club is designed for students with prior coding experience, helping them strengthen their skills, gain independence, and work on an individual coding project.

Both clubs are free to join and use provided devices, which removes barriers and creates an inclusive and supportive environment for all students. The program especially helps girls, female-identifying, and non-binary youth find their voice and passion in the world of coding, while encouraging everyone to explore computer science as a fun and empowering way to make an impact.

Across the Nation: A Shared Mission

Whether it’s in a Mission, summer camp, or mentorship program, every Challenger Learning Center shares a common purpose: to be the place where curiosity is sparked and confidence in STEM takes root. These moments of inspiration happen every day.

Said one parent after their daughter experienced a program at Challenger Learning Center of Colorado:

“It’s taken her creative and leadership interests and put it into a STEM subject she’s never considered before.”

Moments like this are why we do what we do. When girls see themselves reflected in scientists, engineers, astronauts, and innovators, they begin to believe they can lead in those roles, too. And when they do it themselves, it’s the first step on a journey that could change the world.