GEMS (Girls interested in Engineering, Math, and Science) is an annual program run by volunteer District 211 female math, science, and engineering teachers who organize a Saturday event in February for 250 fifth and sixth-grade girls to experience a STEM career fair with parents and then five 30-minute hands-on activities lead by female engineers, manufacturers, scientists, and mathematicians.
GCAMP grant funds support outreach to fifth and sixth-grade girls and their parents from low-income and bilingual families. The parents who travel on the bus with their children participate in a STEM parent day program while their children are in the hands-on sessions. This parent event includes career awareness, a hands-on challenge, and a tour of the resources available to their child when they get to high school. Many bilingual or low-income parents feel disconnected from the school system. This outreach is vital to creating trust and awareness well before students enter high school.
In February 2020, GCAMP hosted a breakout session for GEMS girls featuring 3D pens.