Girls on outdoor Adventure for Leadership and Science (GALS)
GALS (Girls on outdoor Adventure for Leadership and Science) is a summer science program for high school students who identify as female or gender non-conforming. I co-founded GALS in 2016 with three other PhD students at Duke University in an effort to provide hands-on, place-based learning to girls traditionally underrepresented in STEM and to develop their leadership skills through a meaningful backcountry experience. GALS programs are now active in North Carolina, New Mexico, and Arizona, and are in development in several other states including Michigan (with funding from USDA WAMS).
Over the course of one to two weeks, students learn ecology, earth science, and chemistry through exploring their surroundings with scientists. This program is offered free of charge to motivated students. GALS provides the unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in science and experiential education while immersed in a supportive community of peers.
GALS strives to cultivate a passion in environmental science, develop leadership abilities, enhance critical thinking skills, and promote teamwork in each participant. The program consists of formal scientific instruction, informal environmental investigation, and small group discussions while backpacking through beautiful local forests. In addition to engaging in science, students participate in discussions on environmental ethics and have opportunities for environmental journaling, reflection, and art. Students are encouraged to push themselves outside their comfort zones and to try new activities, while simultaneously gaining a sense of responsibility and self-confidence.
More information on GALS can be found on each of the program websites. If you are interested in starting a GALS program at your institution, please contact me, and I would be happy to share all our resources with you to help you get started.
Check out this article for more details on the summer 2017 trip.
You can read more about the value of hands-on, placed-based education in my article, "Living the Science: Place-Based Education as a Model for Scientific Learning."
Over the course of one to two weeks, students learn ecology, earth science, and chemistry through exploring their surroundings with scientists. This program is offered free of charge to motivated students. GALS provides the unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in science and experiential education while immersed in a supportive community of peers.
GALS strives to cultivate a passion in environmental science, develop leadership abilities, enhance critical thinking skills, and promote teamwork in each participant. The program consists of formal scientific instruction, informal environmental investigation, and small group discussions while backpacking through beautiful local forests. In addition to engaging in science, students participate in discussions on environmental ethics and have opportunities for environmental journaling, reflection, and art. Students are encouraged to push themselves outside their comfort zones and to try new activities, while simultaneously gaining a sense of responsibility and self-confidence.
More information on GALS can be found on each of the program websites. If you are interested in starting a GALS program at your institution, please contact me, and I would be happy to share all our resources with you to help you get started.
Check out this article for more details on the summer 2017 trip.
You can read more about the value of hands-on, placed-based education in my article, "Living the Science: Place-Based Education as a Model for Scientific Learning."
