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Girls in STEM | NASA hosts STEM camp out at Great Lakes Science Center

40 area girls recently camped out inside the Great Lakes Science Center to learn more from NASA's female scientists.

With 2 NASA facilites in Northeast Ohio, many kids grow up dreaming of a space career.

Our friends at the Great Lakes Science Center recognize that. They have a whole display related to NASA and space.

Recently, about 40 girls camped out inside the science center to learn more from NASA's female scientists.

Astronaut Serena Auñón Chancellor has been at the space station since June. For the girls here, she's an inspiration, because they too love science, technology, engineering and math.

"I came here to learn more about engineering because i want to make robots that go into space," said sixth grader Samantha Tindell.

The girls are in grades 6 thru 9 and go to schools all over Northeast Ohio. While they don't know each other, they share an enthusiasm for science.

"These girls are going to exchange phone numbers, they're going to become really good friends as a result of this, and they're going to push one another to pursue STEM careers," said Robin Kaltenbach of Great Lakes Science Center.

The girls spent the evening on team building exercises and engineering challenges, bouncing ideas off actual NASA scientists.

In one challenge, they designed airbags to protect delicate payloads. In this case, the payload was an egg. But it simulates the real airbags on display at the Science Center which were used to land the Pathfire rover on Mars.

Those airbags were tested and given a green light at NASA"s Plum Brook Station in Sandusky.

It's hoped experiences like this inspire and motivate the girls to appreciate STEM and empower them to choose STEM careers.

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