Submitted by Cortney Kern
Phone applications can guide us, entertain us, and connect us to our communities. If you could create a new phone app, what would you create? How could this app make life easier? No need to just dream about your new app, you have the resources to make this happen! The Girl Scout innovator and digital arts badge opportunities for Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors help get you there. To supplement your badge experience, team up with Technovation, a global program working with girls to mentor them on how to develop an app that improves communities.
Whether you are new to computer sciences or advanced, course materials for these programs are provided by Technovation for free. This is a great opportunity to learn about new careers and gives you a shot at a financial reward to bring your application to life! The grand prize for one middle school team is $5,000 in seed funding and a trip to the World Pitch in San Francisco. In the high school division, eight teams will win a trip to World Pitch in San Francisco to compete on a global stage, and one team will win $10,000 in seed funding.
Why not get started with your troop? Mentors can be troop leaders, professionals in the field, school teachers, or an adult who is interested in having a big impact. Read below to learn how Technovation has changed both girls and mentors lives.
Technovation Changes Girls’ Lives
Technovation has been inspiring and educating girls and women to solve problems using Technovation for the past 5 years, so we’ve been able to collect a lot of data. Most girls have never started anything or taken a Computer Science class before Technovation, but many were transformed after the program.
70% of alumnae were more interested in entrepreneurship after Technovation than before
70% of alumnae took further Computer Science courses after Technovation when given an opportunity
94% of alumnae believe that tech careers are good for women
44% of college-age alumnae who had already selected a major chose Computer Science vs .4% of college women overall (according to AAUW.org) based on preliminary alumnae survey data; we’re following up with a second survey to check these astounding results
Technovation Changes Mentors’ Lives
Did you know that one of the first women to graduate from the most prestigious technology startup incubator, YCombinator, was inspired to apply because of her experience with Technovation? Technovation helps professional women in some surprising ways.
75% of mentors said Technovation helped their own professional development
76% of mentors said Technovation increased their knowledge about entrepreneurship
62% of mentors said Technovation increased or refreshed their own technical skills
How do you get started? Form a team of up to five girls to work together to research, design and build an app prototype alongside a female mentor in technology and engineering. No prior coding or app development experience is required. The commitment is 40-60 hours from February to April. Ready to learn more? Read over the student checklist to see how to get started. Still have some questions? Feel free to email Cortney.Kern@gscolorado.org to learn how we can get a Girl Scout of Colorado team up and going!