Sisters4Science Leadership Retreat 2005

Sisters4Science (S4S) is up and running! We’re back at our partner schools, Young Women’s Leadership Charter School and Barbara Sizemore Academy (the former Triumphant Charter School and we’ve expanded to a third Chicago Public School this year, Nettlehorst Elementary School.

One day a week sixth to eighth grade girls come together for 2 hours after school to learn about science, meet new friends, do exciting hands-on science, meet working women scientists and develop communication and leadership skills.

The goal for Sisters is to do real science with real women scientists. As of December 2005, two pediatricians, a zoologist, paleontologist and a science educator have visited with the S4S girls – all around the topic of ‘Body Systems and Comparative Anatomy’. In November, eleven girls attended a leadership retreat in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, to focus on team building and to create the annual Sisters4Science code conduct. Educators from the Outdoor Wisconsin Leadership School led activities and challenged girls to use teamwork to perform tasks and discover personal qualities of effective leaders.

Sisters performing a breast exam with Dr. Bellamy-Peyton. Photo: M. Joseph © Project Exploration

Sisters working as a team during a leadership retreat exercise.
Photo: M. Joseph © Project Exploration

Sisters writing in their journals at the leadership retreat. Photo: M. Joseph © Project Exploration

Sisters enjoying a camp fire at the retreat. Photo: M. Joseph © Project Exploration

‘Focus on the Sisters’ –Every once in a while we will focus on girls who are actively involved in Sisters4Science , and provide a glimpse into the minds of our young leaders. The following excerpts were taken from November 2005 interviews with girls who attended the leadership retreat in Lake Geneva.

An interview excerpt with Rana T., eighth grader from Young Women’s Leadership Charter School: What do you like about S4S? I like going on the field trips, they are fun and I’ve only missed one! I like being in a group with my friends and going to new places and learning new things. I also like doing experiments and discussing what happened in the experiments. What have you learned about science in S4S? I have learned how to conduct a good science experiment and that it involves a hypothesis, collecting data, and writing a conclusion. I have also learned that chemists, surgeons, engineers, and morticians all use science in their jobs.

Rana T., Sisters4Science Photo: M. Joseph © Project Exploration

Have you noticed a change in yourself since participating in S4S?
Yes, now I participate more in science class, I raise my hand more, and I show more leadership in science groups. I also talk more, and feel more comfortable.

How would you describe S4S to other people?
You interact with other girls and do teamwork and learn more about biology and chemistry. We also go on trips! You get to have fun, and learn something at the same time.

Any other comments?
S4S is great! They should have it in more schools. I think it would be good for people to learn and interact through science!

How would you describe S4S to other people?
It’s a very fun program. You get to do all types of activities, and go on adventures. You will see different things that you haven’t seen before (like Wisconsin) and meet new people.

Any other comments?
S4S has taught us teamwork and given me a chance to express myself more and allowed me to make more friends!

When the new year starts we’ll enter the world of engineering!
Stay tuned for the next update.