Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Councils’ (GSSGC) Skyland Ranch Environmental Education program empowers students to lead their adventures, partake in environmental stewardship, and practice STEM concepts in a supportive green space. Program methods combine education, outdoor immersion, and environmental leaders to elevate climate concerns, teach STEM, and inform the younger generation about the environment through fun and innovative methods. Activities prepare the next generation to be better equipped to address climate change and flourish in a community dedicated to environmentally friendly practices, and the increase of clean and efficient energy use. The program exposes students to innovative equipment and technology that maximizes their experience. Students study biomimicry, alternative energy, electricity usage, water conservation, plant forest management, and more. As an additional program component students partake in outdoor activities like archery, horseback riding, and our ropes course to further promote leadership development, increase general health, and help students overcome preconceived personal limits and fears.

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council alumni, in partnership with Riverside and San Bernardino school districts, charitable foundations, corporations and local community leaders, created Classroom to Career; an initiative to help girls become better prepared for the challenges of the 21st Century Workplace. The program aligns with Linked Learning concepts that integrate vigorous academics with career-based learning and workplace experiences. It also aligns with the County of San Bernardino’s Cradle to Career roadmap by helping girls connect math and science proficiency to the careers they will ultimately be able to obtain.

Classroom to Career spans an entire school year with activities and field trips at least once each month. The program provides hands-on learning activities on college and university campuses. For example, girls learn engineering concepts at University of Riverside, introduction to cybersecurity at California State University, San Bernardino, and coding and binary numbers at San Bernardino Valley College. As part of the program they also experience behind the scenes worksite visits to non-traditional female and STEM related careers at places like: California Highway Patrol, City of Riverside Information and Technology Department, and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. During each part of the program participants meet female role models where they learn about the career paths within many different industries and the educational requirements to achieve them. In its first full year, Classroom to Career was awarded the Education Medal of Honor by the County of San Bernardino. Program attendance has exceeded 5,800 since its inception in 2013.