December 16, 2015
Where science meets Scouting Around Town
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Submitted photo Katie Mazdra (center) with helpers Samantha Kraus and Brianna Waters at a (STEM) camp for first-through-fifth graders created by Mazdra and hosted it at the L.I.N.C. Community Center in Wentzville. For the project Mazdra won the Girl Scout Gold Award, considered the highest achievement in Girl Scouting.
Fort Zumwalt North Girl Scout earns prestigious Gold Award for creating a STEM camp
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By Brett Auten It was a dedicated climb through the ranks and Katie Mazdra reached her destination by exciting others about science. Mazdra, a 17-year-old junior at Fort Zumwalt North, was focused and determined on earning her Girl Scout Gold Award. Mazdra has been a scout since preschool and the Gold Award is considered the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. It is open only to girls in high school and the award is a challenging, community-based seven-step project. Nationwide only four-to-six percent of Girl Scouts achieve this award. Mazdra decided to showcase her enthusiasm and knowledge in science to young students in the community in hopes of igniting an interest in the study and presenting the fun in science. Mazdra created a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) camp for first-through-fifth graders and hosted it at the L.I.N.C. Community Center in Wentzville over a five week period in October and November. The presentation would last anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half. Mazdra gave the students quizzes before and after the exhibition. Mazdra explored many chemical re-
actions in science and a favorite of the young learners was making potato clocks and small explosions with coke and Mentos. There was also building with marshmallows and spaghetti, circuit building and introducing ratios with M&Ms. “The kids asked a lot of questions that were fun to answer,” Mazdra said. Along with Girl Scouts she is also involved with the Youth Group at Assumption and participated in Catholic Heart Work Camp this past summer. She is also an avid athlete, competing on the cross country, swim and track and field teams. Now that she has reached the top in scouting, she is not going to just walk away. “I would like to continue in volunteering,” she said. “I am also thinking about being a (troop) leader and seeing what it takes.” The project for Mazdra, a Girl Scouts ambassador, culminated in 80-hours, and science has long been an interest and passion. Mazdra has always enjoyed the social aspect of Girl Scouts. “Some of my best friends I met through the Scouts,” she said. “We recently merged with a younger troop and I really like the
leadership aspect of that.” There are 2.7 million Girl Scouts—1.9 million girl members and 800,000 adult members working primarily as volunteers. “Try it out. Join a local troop,” Mazdra said. “Especially if you’re a little shy, it’s a great way to make friends. I have seen it bring out the vibrancy in kids.” See STEM on page 2
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