Girl Scout Science Fair Application

Now introducing the Girl Scout Science Fair!  This is an opportunity for Girl Scouts of all ages to share their STEM passions with other Girl Scouts.

Did you complete a STEM badge this year that you’d like to share? Are you working on a STEM-focused high award that you want to present to a group? Or maybe you did a cool project for school that other Girl Scouts would find interesting!

Read through the guidelines below and complete the application by September 25 to apply! Reach out to us at STEM@gsgatl.org with questions or for a PDF of the science fair guidelines.  We strongly recommend you review the Science Fair Guidelines with your Girl Scout before starting this application!

Presentation: Create a presentation to share your STEM knowledge with other Girl Scouts!  Think about a STEM question you are curious about.  Do some research on this question and present your findings.

• Create a poster board (tri-fold or stand-alone) with information about your topic, including:
  • Your STEM question
  • What you learned or discovered about it (through research, an experiment, completing a badge, or talking to an expert)
  • People (especially women) connected to the field
  • Why you wanted to learn more or why you were interested.
• Rehearse a 2-3 minute “elevator pitch” about your presentation that includes:
  • Your STEM question
  • What you discovered about it
  • Why you wanted to learn more or why you were interested.

Demonstration: Prepare a demonstration to share a fun STEM experiment or something you made with other Girl Scouts!  Think about a cool experiment, demonstration, or piece of technology you’ve seen, learn how to replicate it at home, and research the science behind it. 

• Create a poster board (tri-fold or stand-alone) with information about your topic, including:
  • Your STEM demonstration, experiment, or piece of technology
  • How you recreated it on your own
  • What you learned or discovered about it (the science behind it)
  • How it is part of science in the “real-world” (like what scientific fields use these scientific principles)
  • People (especially women) connected to the field
  • Why you wanted to learn more or why you were interested.
• Rehearse your demonstration
  • How you’ll do your demonstration for an audience (3-5 minutes)
  • What materials you’ll need and how you clean up/reset between each group visiting
  • How you can explain the scientific principles at work for different ages of Girl Scouts

Hands-On Activities (for troops/groups of Cadettes, Seniors, & Ambassadors only): Bring a hands-on STEM activity to the Girl Scout Science Fair!  Plan your own hands-on activity, learn about the principles at work, and inspire other Girl Scouts to get excited about STEM!  Please note that this opportunity is only available for troops or small groups of older Girl Scouts (Cadettes, Seniors, & Ambassadors).

• Create a poster board (tri-fold or stand-alone) with information about your topic, including:
  • Details about your hands-on activity
  • Your STEM question that your activity helps to explore
  • What you learned or discovered about it (the science behind it)
  • How it is part of science in the “real-world” (like what scientific fields use these scientific principles)
  • People (especially women) connected to the field
  • Why you wanted to learn more or why you were interested.
• Rehearse leading a younger Girl Scout through activity
  • How you’ll do your activity with Girl Scouts (3-5 minutes)
    • How will you show Girl Scouts to do the activity? Can younger Girl Scouts do all of the steps? How will you help them?
  • What materials you’ll need and how you clean up/reset between each group visiting
  • How you can explain the scientific principles at work for different ages of Girl Scouts

Timeline 

 Details:

• Girl Scouts (and a responsible adult) need to be at the presentation for their entire time slot, including the 1-hour set-up time prior to their activity starting
• All activities, collateral, displays, and materials should be produced exclusively by the Girl Scouts, with minimal adult assistance (based on GS level)
• Project expectations will reflect the Girl Scout’s level
• Girl Scouts and troops are responsible for providing all materials and supplies. (Grants are available for Juliette Girl Scouts, some materials may be available from Council.)
• Projects can be part of a high award project!  Your project could qualify for a Bronze Award, or be a component of a Silver or Gold Award.  Please note that all high award projects need to go through the standard approval process. 

Logistics:

• Girl Scouts must be accompanied by an adult (parent or Troop Leader) during their time at the Science Fair and STEM Expo.
• Each project should fit on a single 6-foot table (hands-on activities will be given a second table to accommodate visitors)
• Avoid super messy materials (no slime, glitter, liquid glue, etc.)
• Each project should be ready to see about 100 guests (Girl Scouts and parents) during their time slot. This includes having materials for 100 guests to do activities.
• Approved Girl Scout projects will receive free tickets to the STEM Expo for all Girl Scout participants and 1 adult per group.

By signing below, I acknowledge that I'm applying to be part of the Girl Scout Science Fair on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.  I understand that my application may be approved or denied, with final confirmation on September 25, 2023.  

I also acknowledge that the Girl Scout Science Fair is a Girl Scout-led experience.  My Girl Scout(s) will be completing the majority of the work for their projects, including the planning, displays, collateral, materials, and all the details.  

I also understand the responsibilities and obligations of participating in this experience, as listed above, and I have communicated these responsibilities to my Girl Scouts.