Outreach!

Here are some tips on how to plan your next outreach event(s)!
Activity ideas
Promoting your event
  • Submit your event to the SWENext newsletter​
  • Reach out to your local school's principal, science and math teachers or the school district's science, math chair or project lead the way leader.
    • They can send out an email to the respective students and their parents.
    • They can present the event information on their morning or afternoon announcements.
    • They can post flyers around the school.
    • They can publish the information in their school newsletter and/or website.
  • Reach out to your local professional or collegiate section.
    • Often sections already have a list of schools/students that they regularly use to promote their events.
    • Sections might have records of participants to their previous events who would be interested in future events too.
    • They might have contacts with other STEAM promoting organizations or companies who would to be involved with your event.
  • Reach to you local SWENext group, GirlScouts troop, First Robotics group or related STEAM group.
    • These are students who are already interested in STEAM/extra-curriculars and would like want more exposure.
    • They might have contacts with other STEAM promoting organizations or companies who would to be involved with your event.
  • Post about your event on local, public platforms.
    • You can post on your local community's internet group/page, newsletter, newspaper.
    • You can post flyers around your local community's center or public areas [grocery story, book store, laundromats, popular restaurants with bulletin boards, etc].
  • Be sure to provide the appropriate and complete information about your event!
    • Date
    • Time [begin and end time]
    • Location [give directions to get to the room]
    • Contact number/email if they need help before or day of the event
    • If there is anything specific they need to bring or be prepared with [if its long, will food be provided or should they bring their own]
    • Event name and brief description/event website
    • How to sign up to participate in the event (Google forms is great!)
    • Encourage them to spread the information
Parent-Educator Resources
Funding
After the event
Additional resources
Here's everything to know about SWENext!
What is SWENext? 
SWENext is an opportunity for students 18 or younger to become part of the SWE community. [If they are younger than 13, then they need their parent's permission.] The goals are to help promote engineering, leadership, self-confidence, D&I early, so they can start considering careers in engineering and start off strong before college. It also helps them to already promote engineering as role models to their peers. Research has shown that the younger a female is introduced to the idea of engineering, the more likely they are to pursue it as a career option. 
What are the benefits? 
There are opportunities to connect with other SWE members especially their advisor and through various events. There are monthly newsletters highlighting important advice and resources. They are able to build a sense of support and community with their SWENext club, especially surrounded by other females who have similar career goals. They have access to the SWE webinars and events for professional and personal growth development. They can apply for SWE scholarships and awards. Check out the various SWENext awards that are available. Some of these will be announced at WE19, and they are so inspiring!
What can you do to help? 
You can become an advisor for a new or existing SWENext club. You can be a guest speaker or host an outreach event for an existing SWENext club. You can be a mentor for SWENext members. Every group has different needs, so please reach to your local club [if it exists], and ask them how you can help and/or start an open discussion. This is a great way to start the networking conversation!
How can I start a SWENext club? 
Find some students who are interested in engineering/technology! Either through your current outreach avenues, or reach to the local schools in your area and ask to talk to the principal/science and math teachers! A lot of schools/teachers want to encourage their students, but don't have the time or resources. You can help as a SWENext advisor! [You may have to get some clearances per the districts policies.] Have the students sign for SWENext here. Register your SWENext club here. Work with the students to determine where they need the most help and support and brainstorm some event/activity ideas with them!
How can I get funding? 
You can use the resources highlighted below to get funding for SWENext events too! [Note: you or another SWE member must be the primary applicant.]
How can I stay updated with SWENext? 
Sign up here to stay updated with SWENext [there are two newsletters that come out: elementary/middle and high school].
Here are some tips on mentorship!
  • The mentor and mentee need to both gain something out of the mentor-mentee relationship. It's easier to imagine that the mentee can gain life/professional advice from the mentor. But, it's important to recognize that the mentee can provide the mentor with a new or refreshed perspective attitude/mindset and/or from their unique experiences. Relationships are a two way street, and it is only beneficial and motivating when both parties benefit.
  • Setting goals for both the mentor and mentee early on in the relationship can provide direction for the mentorship and provide attainable milestones to evaluate how the mentorship is going. You can go a step beyond and set practice goals/homework before the next session.
  • Ask questions, be curious and open-minded. Think about helpful questions ahead of time to make the limited mentorship time most effective.
  • Take into consideration the various advice exchange and/or ask for feedback and actively incorporate it, so the relationship can continue to flourish. Take some time to reflect on the relationship occasionally.
  • The method of communication can vary pending schedules, distance, etc throughout the mentorship process depending! If you can't meet for a drink one time, try to make it a quick text or email check-in instead to keep the relationship going.
  • If you feel like the other person doesn't have buy-in to the mentorship, then have an open discussion with them about this and address the concerns! It's okay to let go of a mentorship opportunity if the time isn't right too - life isn't a straight line.
  • Be a guide to the mentee. Don't solve their problems for them or tell them what to do. Help them think through their problem and become self-sufficient with your helpful advice along the way!
  • Sign a mentor/mentee agreement! There are tons of examples online to help develop your own or utilize an existing one.
  • Be sure to keep your bias and impulses out of the way!
  • You don't need a formal mentorship program to get started! Reach out to someone in a position that you aspire to be or someone in a position that you used to be in and start to grow!
  • Here are some helpful resources for mentorship!
How can I partner with the Girl Scouts?
There are several Girl Scout troops around the USA, so this is a good place to easily obtain an attentive and interested audience for your outreach activity/event. Consider reaching out to your local Girl Scout troop and help them complete a STEAM related activity to earn a badge.
There are several badges already developed by the GS to promote STEAM.
Some badges are: 
  • Daisy [K-1 graders]: Model Car Design Challenge, Roller Coaster Design Challenge, Space Science Investigator, What Robots Do, How Robots Move, Design a Robot, Think Like an Engineer, Take Action, Think Like a Programmer Brownie [2-3 graders]: Computer Expert, Fling Flyer Design Challenge, Home Scientist, Inventor, Leap Bot Design Challenge, Race Car Design Challenge, Space Science Investigator, Programming Robots, Designing Robots, Showcasing Robots, Think Like an Engineer, Take Action, Think Like a Programmer
  • Junior [4-5 graders]: Crane Design Challenge, Entertainment Technology, Paddle Boat Design Challenge, Product Designer, Space Science Investigator, Programming Robots, Designing Robots, Showcasing Robots, Think Like an Engineer, Take Action, Think Like a Programmer
  • Cadette [6-8 graders]: Entrepreneur, Programming Robots, Designing Robots, Showcasing Robots, Think Like an Engineer, Take Action, Think Like a Programmer
  • Senior [9-10 graders]: Science of Style, Social Innovator, Website Designer, Women's Health, Programming Robots, Designing Robots, Showcasing Robots, Think Like an Engineer, Take Action, Think Like a Programmer
  • Ambassador [11-12 graders]: College Knowledge, Research and Development, Programming Robots, Designing Robots, Showcasing Robots, Think Like an Engineer, Take Action, Think Like a Programmer
​This guide provides further details of what checkpoints need to be met for the activity to satisfy requirements to earn the badge.
There are always formalities when volunteering with minors. Your local council has the volunteer essentials handbook which contains the formality forms and information about volunteering with minors.
Here is what the Girl Scouts has to say about STEM!
What else are you interested in learning/getting more information about? Email the outreach director with your thoughts!

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