It’s not every Saturday you will hear rockets launching from the football stadium and have to watch for robots rolling down the hallways in the New Student Center at Norfolk State University, but this was only part of the fun during a day of learning for Girl Scouts at Science Alive on Sept. 28.

This year’s third annual Science Alive was attended by more than 300 Girl Scouts and hosted by more than 100 Norfolk State University faculty and student volunteers.

During the day, girls participated in a variety of sessions that covered a wide range of topics in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Girl Scouts made slime, learned about how to reduce their carbon footprint, taste-tested the results of a nitrogen ice cream demonstration, visited the nursing school to learn about anatomy and more. The sampling of activities allowed girls to explore and discover in the fields that interest them.

Girl Scouts, along with the Norfolk State University volunteers, also participated in a traditional lunchtime dance party, and the girls also had the chance to talk to the students about college life. During the afternoon, parents had the opportunity to be trained in facilitating Techbridge, which are kits volunteers can use to introduce girls to science and engineering.

Science Alive is designed to expose girls to opportunities in the supportive, all-girl environment of Girl Scouts, where girls feel more comfortable asking questions and trying new things. Today, women hold only about 25 percent of science, technology, engineering and math careers, and Girl Scouts are working to fill the gap by engaging girls in opportunities to learn from female leaders, who inspire the girls to envision themselves in similar careers. Science Alive is a fun and informal way for girls to work as part of a team to set goals and solve problems and develop leadership skills.

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast and the local chapter of the Society of Women Engineers will be presenting an aeronautical engineering workshop for girls in November, and the local members of the National Association of Women in Construction will be teaching Girl Scouts about building sustainable homes in March. These opportunities are open to all girls, whether currently a Girl Scout or not.

For more information, visit www.gsccc.org or call 1-800-77SCOUT.