Launching a Pilot for Our Subscription Based Program
30 families are invited to participate in a free, hands-on STEM learning experience for children ages 8-12
At Girls Code the World, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to explore STEM, discover new interests, and see themselves as a future innovator.
That's why we're excited to announce the next chapter of our mission: the launch of a pilot for our new Subscription-Based Program (SBP), an initiative designed to make engaging, hands-on STEM education more accessible and flexible for families. And we're inviting 30 families to help us bring it to life!
Bringing STEM exploration home
Our new Subscription-Based Program is being developed to give children opportunities to explore STEM beyond the traditional classroom through interactive experiments, real-world challenges, and exposure to the exciting possibilities of STEM careers. The goal? To create a learning experience that's engaging for kids and manageable for busy families.
For our first pilot, participating families will receive the materials needed to complete three hands-on STEM lessons from home. Families can choose the learning format that works best for them: children can complete lessons through our personalized online learning portal or join live virtual sessions led by Girls Code the World's trained instructors. Each lesson will take approximately one hour, with all three lessons taking place between mid-January and early March 2027.
A collaboration with Penn State: Learning what makes a difference
Beyond developing an engaging educational program, we're also interested in better understanding what helps young people build their confidence and envision a future in STEM. As part of our collaboration with the Argüelles Research Group at Penn State University, the pilot provides an opportunity to support research focused on important questions, including:
What educational experiences help young people develop greater confidence in their STEM abilities?
How can we increase awareness of STEM careers and the pathways that lead to them?
How can meaningful connections with STEM role models influence how young people view their own potential?
These questions are central to Girls Code the World's mission and our vision for the Subscription-Based Program. Importantly, participation in the educational pilot does not require participation in the research study. Families will receive separate information about the research opportunity and can decide whether they would like to participate.
We're looking for 30 families to help us launch!
We're seeking families with children ages 8–12 who are excited to explore STEM and provide feedback on the experience. Here's what participating families can expect if they agree to be a part of our educational pilot program:
A package delivered to your home. We'll send the materials needed to participate in the pilot activities in January.
A mandatory virtual kickoff in mid-January. Parents and participating children will learn how the program works, what to expect, and how to get started.
Three hands-on STEM lessons. Children will be required to complete three approximately one-hour lessons between mid-January and early March, either independently through our online lesson portal or through live virtual instruction.
Expectations to share feedback. Parents will complete a pre-program and post-program survey. Children will independently complete pre-program and post-program surveys, along with a short survey following each of the three lessons. This is a crucial part of assessing program effectiveness.
Your feedback will play an important role in helping us understand what works well and what we can improve before introducing the program to more families.
How to participate
The pilot is completely free, but only 30 spots are available. Families interested in participating should complete our pre-program registration survey by November 30, 2026, or before all available spots have been filled. The form collects the information we need to coordinate materials, set up the personalized learning portal, and communicate program updates.