In March, we commemorate the vital roles women and girls have played in American history while also empowering the next generation’s leaders to dream big. With that in mind, one area of focus for girls is science, engineering, technology and math (STEM). According to the National Science Foundation, even though women made up more than
half of the United States population, they only accounted for 35% of people employed in STEM occupations as of 2021—and the numbers haven’t improved since. According to the latest statistics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), women only made up 28% of the STEM workforce in 2023. To encourage girls to explore STEM at a young age, consider these local events in the DMV to celebrate Women’s History Month—which is also Expanding Girls’ Horizons in Science and Engineering Month.
Women In STEM
Explore STEM with hands-on activities, demonstrations and the chance to ask a scientist anything. This free event designed with middle and high school students in mind will be held at the Casey Community Center in Gaithersburg, Maryland, on March 6, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Register
at gaithersburgmd.gov
STEMEd for Girls
This free workshop series is designed for high school -aged girls and their caregivers,
with a focus on empowering girls of color and their support network. STEMEd offers virtual workshops through the American Association of University Women, headquartered in Washington, D.C., in leadership skills, mentorship and support, career insights and parental engagement. The first session, on March 27 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., will feature speaker Dr. Dia Jones and answer questions caregivers may have about how hard to push and how to reinforce and support girls in STEM. Register at aauw.org.
Happy Birthday, Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts of the USA wasn’t always the expansive, national organization it is today. It started small—really small—in Savannah, Georgia, with just 18 members. It was founded on March 12, 1912—a day now known as Girl Scouts Day. Celebrate the youth program’s achievements all week long with cookies, badges and sisterhood.
On select dates throughout the month—including Monday through Saturday, the week of March 12—local troops from Girl Scouts of Nation’s Capital will be able to work closely with a team of sled dogs and learn the ins and outs of harnessing, feeding, training and more.
Each scout will take a short individual ride—fun patch included—and have the opportunity to earn the Girl Scout Brownie Try It and Junior dog mushing badges—for purchase at $4 per badge. Non-scouts ages 5 and older are permitted to tag along.
The National Children’s Museum in Washington, D.C., is hosting a Girl Scout takeover on March 2, in which scouts can meet a woman in STEM, earn a STEM career badge and participate in workshops. A discount code for Girl Scouts is available on nationalchildrensmuseum.org.
Friendship in Bloom
More than 100 years ago, Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo gifted 3,000 cherry trees to the city of Washington, D.C. Today, The National Cherry Blossom Festival—ongoing since 1935, according to the National Park Service—celebrates the enduring friendship between the United States and Japan.
This year, the festival runs from March 20 to April 14, with an official opening ceremony on March 23 at 5 p.m. at D.C.’s Warner Theatre. It includes a piece with dancers from D.C.’s Washington Ballet Company choreographed and directed by Jo Kanamori, a choreographer and dancer who is the general artistic director of Noism Company Niigata.
Among family-friendly events at the festival is “Petalpalooza,” on the Capitol Riverfront, April 6 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Festivities will include live music, art, hands-on activities and more. The star of the show will be the choreographed official National Cherry Blossom Festival fireworks. Music for the fireworks show will begin at 8:30 p.m. Find more family events at nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.
