WALTHAM, MA — Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts (GSEMA) recently revealed its newest STEM curriculum in partnership with Suffolk. “Daisies Who Build” will introduce Girl Scouts in kindergarten and first grade to construction careers while teaching them the fundamentals of building processes through hands-on experiential learning. The program serves as an expansion of existing curricula, “Juniors Who Build,” “Brownies Who Build,” and “Cadettes Who Build.”
To kick off the “Daisies Who Build” curriculum with GSEMA, Suffolk hosted an event at its headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts, welcoming a group of 65 Girl Scouts from throughout the region. The group received a tour of the national contractor’s headquarters, engaged in a hands-on STEM building activity alongside some of Suffolk’s leaders, and was presented with patches and certificates for completing the program.
GSEMA and Suffolk have expanded the reach of their programs over the past five years from Girl Scout Brownies (grades 2-3) and Juniors (grades 4-5) to Cadettes (grades 6-8) and now Daisies (grades K-1), providing opportunities to engage with Suffolk's women leaders as mentors for formative exposure to different pathways. This evolution creates connections at a crucial age for early exploration into possible careers and seeks to inspire the next generation to pursue construction and engineering with an eye toward addressing the industry’s gender gap.
The “Daisies Who Build” curriculum takes Girl Scouts through a three-step process of constructing a building, with options to choose an activity for each step. Upon completion of the program, Girl Scouts will gain knowledge of building design, tool safety, and an introduction to skilled trades career pathways.
“Expanding the ‘Girl Scouts Who Build’ series to include our youngest Girl Scouts is an exciting step in giving every girl early access to STEM and construction careers,” GSEMA CEO Monica Roberts said. “Through hands-on experiences, mentorship from women leaders, and fun, skill-building activities, we help girls see that these fields are not only accessible but full of opportunity. Our mission is to empower girls to explore their interests, develop confidence, and imagine themselves as future innovators, builders, and leaders in industries where women have historically been underrepresented.”
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“Suffolk’s long-standing partnership with Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts reflects our commitment to introducing young women and girls to STEM-related career pathways, like those in construction,” said Pat Lucey, President, Northeast and National Centers of Excellence at Suffolk. “For many of these Girl Scouts, it may be their first introduction to this industry and what it takes to build. We hope this early learning experience sparks a powerful sense of possibility as we work to cultivate future builders, engineers, architects, and innovative leaders in whatever path they pursue.”
