Sisters4Science Outdoor Leadership Retreat 2007

"I used to think that science wasn’t for me,
but now I know that science is for me."
-A 2007 Outdoor Leadership Retreat participant

After learning what it means to be a leader as well as a team,
girls gather for a group photo.
Photo M.E. Perez

Girls where challenged to work their way out of a human knot without letting go of each other’s hands. Patience and good communication skills were a must for these twisted sisters! Photo C. Bell

On a cold weekend in February, 15 middle school Sisters4Science braved the elements to discover what it means to be a leader and be immersed in experiential science education at the 2007 Sisters4Science Outdoor Leadership Retreat in Williams Bay, Wisconsin.

The Sisters4Science Outdoor Leadership Retreat is an overnight, two-day, girls-only retreat designed to build individual leadership skills through team-building, problem-solving, and outdoor activities. As a component of the Sisters4Science program, the retreat is an intensive experience that creates a safe space for girls to explore science and teamwork in a girls-only environment.

Jasmine displays her trust in her fellow Sisters4Science by preparing to fall into their waiting arms. Beneath her, the girls have formed a “zipper”—a stable spotting technique for trust falls. Photo M. E. Perez

Educators from the Outdoor Wisconsin Leadership Synergies (OWLS) program at Aurora University led activities and challenged girls to use teamwork to discover characteristics of effective leaders. Goal-setting, decision-making, and communication skills blossomed through activities both educational and fun—skills that will benefit the girls both in their self-esteem and overall school performance. In the words of one participant, “I learned that when I challenge myself, I can do whatever I set my mind to.”

In addition to team-building exercises, girls participated in a hands-on chemistry lesson with University of Chicago chemist Laurie Parker. Sisters4Science discovered why we pour salt on ice in the winter and used this knowledge of chemical bonds to make homemade ice-cream—with tasty results! Afterwards, girls continued their chemistry lesson on a night hike through the surrounding Lake Geneva forest paths, learning the science behind night vision, triboluminescence (the spark you see when you chew a Wintergreen LifeSaver in the dark), and the color receptors in our eyes.

All participants are seventh and eighth grade girls active in the Sisters4Science program at their respective schools—Young Women’s Leadership Charter School and Barbara Sizemore Academy.

Ariel and Tarryanna sample the vanilla ice cream they churned all by themselves using only snow, salt, a tin can, and their knowledge of chemistry. These girls agree—science is totally sweet! Photo C. Bell