conference theme
Each year the Girls in the Middle Conference has a prevailing theme tied to STEM.
For 2024 our theme is “Digging Into Your Future” encouraging girls to accelerate their interest in STEM fields whether that be via science such as oceanography, biology, or any of our other careers presented in our hands-on workshops! Expanding their minds outside the box and letting the many different paths (rivers) lead them on an exploration adventure.
We focus on independence
It is natural for participants to want to group together with their friends. We purposefully divide attendees into teams of 10-12 where girls from different areas/schools will be grouped together to encourage teamwork and new connections.
SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY
8:45-9:05 am Registration & Breakfast
9:05-9:30 am Team Intros & Ice Breakers
9:40-10:00 am Keynote Address
10:10-10:55 am Workshop 1
11:05-11:50 am Workshop 2
12:00-12:30 pm Lunch at the Kiva
1:00-2:45 pm Group Session-Air Force Cadets, Slide Show
Hands-on Learning STEM Workshops
Led by female presenters in their field
Girls attend two workshops and one group session on the day of the conference with their assigned team. Workshops are roughly 50 minutes in length and focus on a brief overview of the female presenter and their career along with a hands-on learning workshop to give the girls a glimpse into that field.
We’ve been thankful to have presenters from many different fields and the list changes from year to year depending on availability. During registration, girls indicate a general preference for desired STEM field workshops, but the final assignments are a surprise they find out on the day of the conference.
Our workshop list has included these fields and more!
Aerospace Engineer Sierra Nevada Corporation
Agriculture and Animal Science Otero College
Archaeologist Otero College
Athletic Trainer University of Colorado - Colorado Springs
Engineer Trane
Environmental Science Otero County Health Dept.
Geneticist Neogen / Geneseek
GIS Specialist US Dept of Interior - Surface Mining Reclamation…
Medical Lab Tech Penrose-St. Francis Health Services
Meteorology Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Occupational Therapy Encompass Health
Paramedic/EMT Rocky Ford Fire Department
Park Ranger John Martin Reservoir State Park
Physician Assistant Valley-Wide Health Systems
Psychology Otero College
Registered Nurse AVRMC
Rocket Analyst United Launch Alliance, Women in Launch
Veterinarian Ark Valley Animal Hospital
Web and Graphic Design Dufour Art & Design
Zoology Pueblo Zoo