STEM Discovery, Delivered
Big ideas. Hands-on discoveries. Real-world inspiration. From wherever you call home.
Imagine opening the door to a new STEM adventure — one that encourages your child to experiment, solve problems, build confidence, and discover exciting possibilities for their future.
That's the vision behind Girls Code the World's Subscription-Based Program (SBP): a new initiative being developed to bring engaging STEM learning experiences directly to families.
Through interactive lessons, hands-on experiments, and opportunities to discover real-world STEM careers and role models, we're working to make STEM exploration more accessible, flexible, and inspiring.
The students who stand to benefit most from STEM enrichment are often the very ones who face the greatest barriers to accessing it — whether due to cost, transportation, or busy family schedules.
For years, Girls Code the World offered in-person summer programming. While these experiences were incredibly valuable, we began to recognize a pattern: many of the families we reached were already actively seeking out STEM enrichment opportunities for their children and often had a parent or caregiver available to coordinate transportation and participation.
This prompted us to ask ourselves an important question: Are we reaching the children who could benefit most from what we offer? As we reflected on that question, we saw an opportunity to rethink how we deliver STEM education.
The shift was about more than convenience or accessibility. It's about empowering entire families to embrace curiosity, creativity, and discovery. We want children to see that STEM isn't limited to classrooms, and we want parents to feel confident encouraging exploration at home.
That's the idea behind our Subscription-Based Program.
Through this initiative, Girls Code the World delivers thoughtfully designed STEM activity boxes directly to families' doorsteps. Each box contains engaging, age-appropriate lessons and the materials needed to complete them, making hands-on learning approachable for kids and manageable for parents.
No more scrambling to find meaningful activities on a day off from school. No more scouring the internet for experiments that are actually age-appropriate (and don't require a shopping trip). No more coordinating transportation just to give your child an enriching experience outside the classroom.
Just accessible, engaging STEM experiences that meet families where they are and help make curiosity and discovery part of everyday life.
About the Initiative
A meaningful partnership with Penn State University to expand our impact
In collaboration with the Argüelles Research Lab at Penn State University, we're also exploring important questions about how STEM educational experiences can support young people more long term. Dr. Argüelles is a recipient of the NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program, and she has chosen to work with Girls Code the World to ensure broader impact of her lab’s research.
Our joint research goals include understanding how STEM confidence develops, how children learn about STEM careers and educational pathways, and how connections with role models may influence their aspirations.
Don’t have kids that fit the age range, but know someone who does? Submit their name and contact information, and we will reach out to them to join the program!
Nominate a Family
Joining the Pilot
What exactly is GCTW piloting?
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We're inviting 30 families to try three interactive STEM lessons, with all the materials shipped right to their door. Children can complete the lessons at their own pace through our online learning portal or join live virtual sessions with our trained instructors. The pilot is completely free, and family feedback will help us improve the program before its official launch.
Who is eligible for the pilot?
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We're looking for families with children ages 8–12 who are excited to explore STEM! No previous STEM experience is necessary — just curiosity, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to completing the pilot activities and surveys.
What are the expectations of pilot families?
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Participating families will be asked to:
Before the pilot: Parents and children each complete a short pre-program survey.
January 2027: Attend a virtual kickoff session together to learn about the program and expectations.
January – March 2027: Children complete three approximately one-hour STEM lessons, either independently through our online portal or in live virtual sessions with instructors.
After each lesson: Children independently complete a short feedback survey.
After completing all three lessons: Parents and children each complete a post-program survey.
Participation in our separate Penn State research study is optional and not required to join the educational pilot.
How do I sign up for the pilot?
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Complete our pre-program registration survey. This form collects the information we need to coordinate your materials shipment, create your child's learning portal account, and keep you updated.
Registration closes November 30, 2026, or once all 30 spots are filled — whichever comes first. We encourage families to sign up early.
When can I sign up for the full launch?
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We're planning to use feedback from our January – March 2027 pilot to refine the Subscription-Based Program before making it available to more families. While we haven't announced an official launch date yet, we're working toward a broader rollout following the pilot and evaluation process.
Stay connected with Girls Code the World by signing up here for updates and future enrollment opportunities!