The 6 Points Sci-Tech Girls

This week, the WRJ Blog is featuring a series of articles on the newest URJ Camp: URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy. In particular, we are focusing on WRJ's involvement in increasing the presence of girls at the camp and, by extension, supporting women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

They love science, they love music, they think URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy is amazing! Of the more than 40 campers at the Governor's Academy campus north of Boston for this second session at Sci-Tech, seven are girls. They have no issue being in the minority and are really enjoying their majors as well as the chugim (electives) that the camp offers. They are proud to be "girls who love science."

The girls chatted easily and with great delight about their Sci-Tech experience that combines Judaism, science, and technology. They belong to congregations; their ages range from 12-14; they had celebrated Bat Mitzvahs or would soon; and some had attended other camps, both URJ  and secular, but never a science-oriented, specialty camp. The girls hailed from Florida, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.

Several of the girls benefited from the WRJ $5,000 grant that provided $500 scholarship encouraging girls to attend this brand new URJ science camp. When they learned I was part of WRJ, they said "thank you!" When I asked if they would return next year, they all agreed they wanted to if parents could to send them and hoped that there might be opportunities to aid their attendance.

Our visiting group watched the robotics majors create a series of domino-like affects with robots, little machines, blocks, and more. The campers worked in pairs or small groups. In my time there, the girls worked together to create their station and were trying to figure out why their robot wasn't enabling the next station to continue the chain reaction.

In the gaming major, kids were learning how to develop codes to create games. A well-known Jewish code developer from MIT was coming later in the week to talk with them about the process. Many outside scientists visit to share their journeys and explain their work to the kids. Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) President Rabbi Aaron D. Panken visited last week and discussed flying, a personal passion of his, along with his engineering background.

Another anticipated visitor is a Nobel Prize winner, one of the staff's Dad who worked on the development of the Big Bang Theory. Did I mention that each morning, after singing Modeh Ani, staff members create a "Boker Big Bang" where something blows up?

Jewish values and words are part of the camp's culture. Values like persistence, patience, and curiosity are discussed in terms of what the kids are trying to accomplish. They sing with typical camp enthusiasm at song session and celebrate Shabbat like kids in all URJ camps. Last night, their evening activity was an all-camp swim.

Before we left, I shared two last thoughts with the girls: 1. Their job was to bring a new girl to URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy next summer, and 2. They always needed to remember how important having girlfriends was regardless of the path they chose in life. They all smiled broadly and clearly understood the message. I got the feeling that the seven formed a tight 'pack' in their girls' dorm. And I got big hugs before leaving!

The visit to UR 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy told its story: our Reform Movement is  now serving a constituency whom our other marvelous camps might never see! It seems to be a successful pioneer year. Mazel Tov!