STEM Center for Excellence

To be competitive in the global market, over the next decade the U.S. will need an astounding one million more STEM professionals than its on track to produce.

Where will they come from? With your help, they’ll come from Girl Scouts! Reports show that STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) occupations are growing at double the rate of other professions, and we’re committed to filling the STEM workforce pipeline. Hawai‘i needs 16,000 more workers with STEM skills each year, and currently ranks nearly last (47th) among all states with regard to the number of STEM-related degrees awarded per 100,000 residents and women only makeup 30% of STEM professionals in Hawaii.

A 2019 research study “Decoding the Digital Girl” (GSRI) notes that Girl Scouts are more likely to be digital leaders than boys and non-Girl Scouts. Girls who are digital leaders show enhanced interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) overall and in tech specifically. While most girls interest in STEM decreases with age, Girl Scouts’ interest in these fields actually increases from age eight. This interest can potentially narrow the gender gap in STEM career interests.

Together with educators, school students, and the community, the facility will create engaging curriculums and attract local young students to increase female STEM interest and the number of STEM professionals in Hawaiʻi.

Invest in Girls and Change the world.

THROUGH THE STEM CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE

Girl Scouts of Hawai`i is changing the workforce pipeline in STEM to meet the urgent need for female voices, engagement, and leadership in the fastest-growing sector of the U.S. economy.

Camp Paumalū’s Stem Center for Excellence creates a place-based experience through which the Girl Scouts’ keys to leadership and learning processes are realized. The design approach respects Paumalū as a Hawaiian place and reflects its purpose of being a gathering place for those who want to learn how to better the world in great and powerful ways. It employs the placed based themes as a basis for

• planned renovation, replacement and upgrades, and

• additional program implementation and expanded community utilization.

A VISION FOR CAMP PAUMALŪ STEM CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE

The vision for the STEM Center for Excellence for the 21st century includes three major themes defined as Camp Paumalū:

Host/ Guest Place
Leadership
Timeless Learning

The STEM Center will become an international gathering place for youth leadership and STEM learning.

Girl Scouts of Hawai`i is working with GSUSA and the World Association of Girl Guides to designate the center as an official worldwide “DESTINATION” which will assist in funding programs to attract international students. The unique cultural aspect that will be incorporated into the programming allows our community partners to encourage youth to come back and to give back.

The aging main lodge at Girl Scouts of Hawaii’s Camp Paumalu will be replaced by a STEM Center for Excellence that will provide exciting, 21st century experiential STEM learning facilities for 4,800 local Girl Scouts, students, and community members. The Center will include a new two-story building with a 4,160 square foot main upper level that will feature a large Innovation Center, welcome lobby, and observation deck for stargazing. The architectural design of the building will blend in with the site’s pristine surroundings and sustainable elements can be added such as photovoltaic panels, rainwater catchment, landscaping with native plants.

Girl Scouts of Hawaii anticipates that through the new STEM Center for Excellence, Camp Paumalu will continue to serve 3,200 Girl Scouts and other community members per year with an anticipated increased reach of 1,600 to 2,400 new participants. This project will serve as a critical step toward the following objectives of establishing a facility that will

better support high-quality STEM engagement for Girl Scouts
work with community schools’ students and educators as a training facility with curriculum support from some of our national partners
help attract higher numbers of non-Girl Scout users to increase utilization of the camp to 50-75% of the year.