Amid school closures and California’s stay at home order, the YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley is ensuring that girls are able to stay engaged with STEAM and get the support they need through this difficult time. YWCA Pasadena-Foothill Valley has forged on by moving their Girls Empowerment After-School Program online and partnering with Magnitude.io, a company that creates project-based learning opportunities, to launch a high-altitude balloon that girls will be able to track from their homes.
“Our top priorities right now are making sure our girls are able to maintain the support of our staff and their peers, maintain continuity with their STEAM engagement, and ensure that they are continuing to participate in their schoolwork.” said Cinthya Martinez, operations and marketing coordinator. “We know parents are concerned about their children losing interest in their education during this pandemic and we hope to close that gap with exciting special events like our partnership with Magnitude.io.”
The event called “Raise your Sights. See the Possibilities” will see the girls engage with Manitude.io engineers to launch a meter sized balloon on May 1 at 11 a.m. This program is one that Magnitude.io has done with partner organizations such as UCLA’s Project Payload and Boyscouts. The balloon has the potential to go into neighboring states or even all the way around the globe. While the launch takes only about an hour, the girls in the after-school program will be able to track the balloon’s position, temperature readings, and pressure readings over the days and weeks it takes to make its journey.
Girls may enroll in the Girls Empowerment After-School Program now to participate in Zoom calls with the engineers before and during the balloon launch. Engineers from around the world will be participating. Interested participants can register at bit.ly/ywlaunch. For more information visit bit.ly/ywlaunchinfo or email Program Manager Jomie Liu at jliu@ywca-pasadena.org.
The general public will also be able to watch the balloon launch at Magnitude.io’s YouTube Page or on YWCA Pasadena’s Facebook page on May 1 at 11 a.m.
This event is a part of the YWCA’s online Girls Empowerment Program. YWCA has moved its after-school program onto Google Hangouts Meet Monday-Thursday. Girls will continue to have discussion groups, homework help, STEAM activities and more virtually during the program.
“We’re really excited to continue to be a safe place for girls to explore the STEAM disciplines, while receiving the emotional and educational support that they need right now” said Jomie Liu, program manager.
