2025 STEM Camp Pensacola
STEM Camp in Pensacola kicked off with a wild start as the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida stopped by to talk all things owls. Campers rolled up their sleeves to dissect owl pellets and made some fascinating discoveries, including tiny mouse skulls. The afternoon shifted from nature to investigation as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement put the Girl Scouts on the case of the "Stolen Cookie Recipe." Through hands-on exploration of four forensic disciplines: Biology/DNA, Friction Ridge, Chemistry, and Document Examination, the girls solved the mystery and declared justice for cookies everywhere.
Day two brought radiant energy to camp, literally. Florida Power & Light launched the morning session with a discussion on solar energy, and the campers applied what they learned by crafting homemade solar ovens to make gooey s’mores. Later, the girls got to play doctor at Bear Care Hospital, led by the team from Ascension Healthcare. Each camper cared for their stuffed patient, Teddy, navigating through EMT triage, nursing exams, radiology, respiratory therapy, pharmacy, and discharge planning. It was a full day of care, compassion, and career exploration.
By day three, the Girl Scouts were ready to crack some codes. With guidance from the UWF Center for Cybersecurity, they built Caesar Ciphers, decoded messages using ancient Scytales, and even took on the challenge of understanding the Enigma Machine. In the afternoon, the focus shifted to the environment. Keep Pensacola Beautiful inspired the girls to become stewards of the earth. Campers made their own recycled paper and designed eco-friendly seed bombs to support local ecosystems.
The final day of camp was packed with creativity and engineering. With the help of our camp staff, the Girl Scouts constructed balloon cars, created beautiful sun prints, and coded robots to navigate tricky mazes. In the afternoon, the Florida Public Archaeology Network helped campers take a step back in time. Using M&M artifacts and plastic replica bones, the girls participated in an interactive dig, designed ancient-inspired treasures, and explored a hands-on archaeology lab on campus.
To wrap up the week, campers celebrated with a glowing finale, a fun and festive glow party that lit up the auditorium and marked the end of a week full of learning, leadership, and unforgettable experiences.
Thank you to our Program Partners. Your expertise and enthusiasm helped make this week unforgettable! STEM Camp Pensacola brought science to life in the most engaging ways, and our Girl Scouts left inspired, empowered, and ready to change the world.
