More than 100 second- through eighth-grade Girl Scouts participated in Girls STEAM Ahead, an event hosted by Nauticus on Nov. 5.

This event gave Girl Scouts the opportunity to explore and discover new aspects of the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) fields. Throughout the evening, girls took part in various activities, such as robots, hovercrafts and underwater vehicles, that allowed them to develop their critical thinking skills, explore curiosities and develop teamwork skills in a fun and informal environment.

A favorite activity during the evening was a team challenge, where girls created remotely operated vehicles as part of an underwater robotics workshop. Teen Girl Scouts who participate with a special Girl Scouts robotics team were the facilitators of this station and guided event attendees while they built their vehicles. Attendees used materials like PVC pipes, air tubes, fans and zip ties to construct their vehicles, and they put them to the test in a large water tank.

Other activities included learning about meteorology at the NOAA’s “Science On A Sphere” exhibit, learning about static electricity and how it can travel through one’s body using a Van de Graaff generator, visiting the horseshoe crab and shark touch tanks, and boarding onto the USS Wisconsin to listen to guest speakers in the STEAM industry.

“It was a pleasure for us at Nauticus to partner with Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast to host Girls STEAM Ahead,” said Susie Hill, education specialist and special programs manager with Nauticus. “To show our local girls the importance of being interested in the STEAM fields is key. We hope the activities encourage them to continue to pursue their interests, and a career, in STEAM.”

In addition to activities led by Nauticus, community groups, including representatives from Naval Station Norfolk and NOAA Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services were among the guest speakers and activity facilitators for girls during the event.

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast serves more than 12,000 girls in grades kindergarten through 12th and nearly 6,000 adult volunteers in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. For more information, visit www.gsccc.org or call 1-800-77SCOUT.