Much focus has been placed nationwide on STEM education (science, technology, engineering and math) for girls to increase the likelihood they feel comfortable choosing a similar career.  In Eastern Kentucky, 60 girls are part of the Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Camp for middle school girls.  The camp comprises 3 weeks in the summer and one Saturday every month for the remainder of the school year.  Big Sandy Community & Technology College received the grant and hosts the camp.  BitSource, a local company founded by businessmen to help put displaced coal-miners back to work by teaching them coding and technical skills is also a sponsoring organization.  During the 3 week camp, the girls learned 3D design and printing, Virtual and Augmented Reality, Coding, Electrical Circuits, Design Thinking & Entrepreneurship.

One skill the girls asked to learn during their camp time was sewing.  The Pike County Certified Master Volunteers in Clothing Construction provided an educational lesson in which all 60 girls had the opportunity to learn about sewing! The Pike County Extension Office Family & Consumer Sciences program provided 5 sewing machines and many supplies for the campers to use.  Each girl learned the parts of a sewing machine, basic machine safety, sewing notions, how to thread a machine and about basic stitches. Under the guidance of a Master Volunteer, they each completed a simple book mark and added decorative ribbon trim.  The planning and design of their project and hands-on use of computerized sewing equipment all fit in with their STEM curriculum.  They campers were delighted to have a completed project that they had finished by themselves and surprised that sewing required so much technology and engineering. 

Traci Tackett, Program Coordinator said, “We appreciate your help and support so very much.  Allowing us to use the Extension Office's sewing machines and connecting us with the volunteers was so helpful.  It wouldn't have happened without you!  We definitely want to maintain this partnership for future endeavors!”