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Carol Ventresca and Brett JohnsonThe STEM Leadership Center: A Hub for Girl Scouts and Community Learning

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1. The STEM Leadership Center: A Hub for Girl Scouts and Community Learning Carol Ventresca and Brett Johnson 44:52

In this episode we welcome back Tammy Wharton, President and CEO of Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland, to give an update on the Dream Big initiative and the new STEM Leadership Center at Camp Ken-Jockety.

Tammy shares the excitement surrounding the opening of the building and its functional purpose, emphasizing that it serves not only the girls but also the wider community and youth in Central Ohio.

Top takeaways

1. STEM Leadership Center: The Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland has opened a STEM Leadership Center, fulfilling the Dream Big program’s promise of promoting STEM Education for young girls in Central Ohio.
2. Dream Big Initiative: The program started in 2018, aiming to put 2.5 million girls in the STEM pipeline by 2025. It’s a transformational step aimed at providing immersive STEM experiences.
3. Community Engagement: The STEM Leadership Center is for all children and community members in Central Ohio, offering various programs and collaborations with schools and community groups.
4. Ohio State of the Girl Report: This report, created by Girl Scout councils across Ohio, addresses the challenges girls face and includes actionable steps for teachers, caregivers, and mentors to support them.
5. Digital Literacy: A significant focus is on teaching girls digital literacy, as many challenges such as cyberbullying are linked to Technology use.
6. Importance of Physical Activity: Limiting screen time and encouraging outdoor physical activities are vital for improving girls’ physical and mental well-being.
7. Combating Bullying: Strategies to combat bullying include establishing supportive connections with caring adults and providing anti-bullying education in schools.
8. Economic and Social Importance of STEM for Girls: Recruiting more women into STEM fields is critical for the workforce, as women make up over 50% of the population but are underrepresented in STEM.
9. Hands-On Learning at the STEM Center: Programs at the center are designed to provide girls with hands-on learning opportunities, like building a dollhouse with a 3D printer, and showcasing potential career paths.
10. Building Confidence and Support Networks: It’s crucial for girls to build self-confidence and have supportive networks to improve academic success, fight bullying, and create a positive body image.

If you like this episode, please let us know. We appreciate the feed back, and your support of offset costs of producing the podcast!

Key moments

04:10 Investing Early in Girls’ STEM

07:29 “Essential Report for Educators”

11:52 Unrealistic Beauty Standards in Media

15:59 Promote Anti-Bullying Education

20:09 Empowering Girls Through Construction Skills

23:32 “Embrace Failure to Succeed”

27:15 Building Confidence to Prevent Bullying

29:58 Boosting Women in STEM

33:51 Empowering Gold Award Girl Scouts

39:46 Observations on Booth Interactions

42:16 Outdoor Classroom for All Schools

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Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants.

Copyright 2025 Carol Ventresca and Brett Johnson

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/

The views and opinions expressed by the experts interviewed on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast hosts or any affiliated organizations. The information provided in these interviews is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified professionals for specific advice or information related to their individual circumstances. The podcast host and producers do not endorse or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information provided by the experts interviewed. Listener discretion is advised.

Mentioned in this episode:

Listener Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed by the experts interviewed on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast hosts or any affiliated organizations. The information provided in these interviews is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to consult with qualified professionals for specific advice or information related to their individual circumstances. The podcast host and producers do not endorse or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information provided by the experts interviewed. Listener discretion is advised.

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Brett Johnson and Carol Ventresca Looking Forward Our Way Podcast

The Looking Forward Our Way Podcast is co-hosted by Dr. Carol Ventresca, a recently retired Encore Careerist, who is expanding her horizons through a variety of opportunities. And Brett Johnson, owner of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants. He works with entrepreneurs, businesses, brands, and non-profits to plan, launch, produce, and implement podcasts into their marketing strategies. And he's affectionately known to his podcast clients as "My Podcast Guy."

Carol and Brett have been working together co-hosting this podcast, now in its "encore career," since 2017.