STEM Camp Fire Career Flip Book

FANTASTIC FUTURES! STEM Careers You Should Know About

Top Tech Whizzes

Engaging Engineers

Master Mathematicians

BONUS: What kind of STEM career is best for you? Take the quiz!

Photos (top to bottom): © Noel Hendrickson/Media Bakery; © Corey Jenkins/Image Source/Media Bakery; © Karin Dreyer/Blend/Media Bakery; © Dmitry Kalinovsky/Thinkstock.

Super Scientists

Do you have any bright ideas about the world around you?

You might have a STEM-tastic future ahead!

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. Kids who use their STEM skills are great problem solvers and find new ways to make their communities better places.

Read on to learn more!

dazzle the World With

Sc ENcE

Science jobs have something for everyone: You can work with animals, plants, or the environment. You can learn about Earth, outer space, or the deep sea.

Science is everywhere!

Wildlife biologist

food scientist The scoop: Food scientists study food and make new foods and flavors.

You might be a good food scientist if:  You love to eat and try new flavors  You think chemistry is cool  You like to think of new ways to prepare food What do food scientists do?  Create new flavors for foods and drinks  Invent foods for astronauts in space  Research new ways to package foods to keep them from going bad  Test foods for germs  Test how many vitamins and minerals are in different foods

How to get there: Food scientists need a college degree.

Many have graduate degrees.

did you know?

The world’s population is expected to rise to more than 9 billion by 2065. Food scientists make it possible for the world’s population to be able to buy different foods for a low cost. They also invent new foods.

Food scientists invented freeze-dried ice cream, which flew in space with the Apollo 7 space mission in 1968.

Source: www.census.gov

astronomer

The scoop: Wildlife biologists study wild animals and the ecosystems they live in.

The scoop: Astronomers study space—stars, planets, moons, galaxies, and more.

You might be a good wildlife biologist if:  You love animals  You like to write  You love to spend time outdoors

You might be a good astronomer if:  You love staring at the night sky  You’re good at math and physics  You’re curious

What do wildlife biologists do?  Study animals and how they interact with other species  Collect animals, plants, and other specimens to study in the lab  Design experiments with animals in labs or in the wild  Help make plans for protecting wild species  Write research papers and reports

What do astronomers do?  Help plan missions to other planets  Use telescopes and other technology to study objects such as stars, comets, asteroids, and black holes  Design new tools like telescopes  Analyze data using computers and math  Write research papers and reports How to get there: Most astronomers need a graduate degree.

How to get there: Most wildlife biologists have at least a college degree. Those who do research at universities have graduate degrees.

did you know?

Questions of astronomy can sometimes be stranger than fiction. In 2004, physicist Stephen Hawking said that he solved the black hole puzzle. “Black holes are stranger than anything dreamt up by science fiction writers, but they are firmly matters of science,” he said.

His theory that things inside a black hole can escape or even be transported to another galaxy, may literally open up another world of possibilities.

did you know?

We’re not as different from apes as we thought. At the age of 26, wildlife biologist Jane Goodall was accepted into the lives of wild chimpanzees in what is now Tanzania.

Through detailed observation and a slow buildup of trust, she was able to study behaviors that had never been seen before.

They held tight family bonds, had a chain of command, and not only were they able to use tools, but they were seen making them.

Source: www.pbs.org/newshour

Source: www.pbs.org/wnet/nature

LEarN MOrE

Watch Scientists at Work! http://to.pbs.org/1pegxPO Find the STEM Career for You! http://bit.ly/1h7Sqs9

Photos: food scientist, © Noel Hendrickson/Media Bakery; wildlife biologist, © Gabriela Insuratelu/Thinkstock; astronomer, © powerofforever/iStockphoto.

STEMTaSTic JOBS!

create the future With

TEch

are you into computers? Do you love to fiddle with phones and portable devices? You’re in luck. Technology jobs are hot and getting hotter!

Web developer You might be a good web developer if:  You like understanding how things work  You’re creative  You spend a lot of time online What do web developers do?  Talk with clients to understand what they want their websites to do  Write computer code to make the website work  Choose colors and images to make the site easy to use  Make sure graphics, audio, and video all work together

Software developer The scoop: Software developers create new computer programs.

You might be a good software developer if:  You love computers  You like organizing things  You’re a good problem solver What do software developers do?  Study the needs of computer users  Design and test products such as games, databases, or operating systems

3d animator

 Plan

how all the pieces of a computer program will work together  Make diagrams to explain how to write software code  Work in teams with others to fix software problems

did you know?

How to get there: Most software developers need a college degree in computer science.

Source: www.fullpower.com/home/philippe_kahn

Software developers made selfies possible. Philippe Kahn created the first camera phone in 1997. Kahn’s photo of his daughter’s birth on June 11, 1997, is the first photo ever transmitted from a camera phone.

The scoop: This type of animator uses computers to make 3D images for movies, commercials, or video games.

You might be a good 3D animator if:  You’re artistic  You love going to the movies  You’re good at math and computers

How to get there: Most web developers need a two-year degree in web design. Some need a fouryear college degree.

What do 3D animators do?  Map out scenes for new animated movies  Use computers to create 3D characters for animated films and games  Produce special effects like smoke and explosions  Work with a team to edit animations

did you know?

Web developers use psychology to help guide viewers’ actions. The way our eyes move through a web page is pretty much out of our control. Pages are designed to lead the eye with key words and even color. Studies have shown that certain colors can inspire different kinds of emotions. Yellow is believed to bring feelings of happiness, blue is said to be relaxing, and red is supposed to bring energy.

How to get there: Most animators need a college degree in computer graphics or art.

did you know?

The majority of the cartoon movies you have seen were created by animators.

In 1928 Walt Disney and animator Ub Iwerks produced Steamboat Willie, the first cartoon to be synced with sound. The first full-length computer-animated movie was Toy Story in 1995. Now computer animation is everywhere, from video games to online, and is more realistic than ever.

Source: http://webdesign.tutsplus.com

Network security analyst

The scoop: Network security analysts protect a company’s computer networks from hackers.

How to get there: Most network security analysts have a college degree in a computer-related field.

You might be a good network security analyst if:  You understand complicated games and situations  You like to figure out where problems start  You pay attention to details

did you know?

What do network security analysts do?  Monitor the computer network for attacks  Install programs to protect the company’s information  Design tests to look for weaknesses in the company’s computer system  Stay up-to-date on computer security news

Network security analysts make for happy online shoppers. Online hackers use computer programs to access accounts at online stores to steal buyers’ personal information. But network security analysts are constantly at work making sure that your information is kept safe. Source: http://www.wisegeekedu.com

Source: www.imdb.com

LEarN MOrE

Get the Scoop on Biotech! http://bit.ly/P9pzgn Play the STEM Career Game! http://ionfuture.org

Photos: software developer, © Corey Jenkins/Image Source/Media Bakery; network security analyst; © Zero Creatives/Cultura/Media Bakery; web developer, © ronstik/Veer; 3D animator, © ryccio/iStockphoto.

The scoop: Web developers design websites.

ENGiNEEr

the World We Live in

Buildings, cars, highways, and cities: Engineers design the systems that make our world work.

Here are just a few of the cool things engineers can do!

automotive engineer

You might be a good automotive engineer if:  You love cars  You like to use your imagination  You like to take things apart to see how they work What do automotive engineers do?  Design new fuel-efficient engines  Test how cars will protect passengers in a crash  Make cars safer and more comfortable  Develop exciting new car designs  Look for problems when a car’s systems don’t work right How to get there: Most automotive engineers need a college degree in mechanical engineering.

Many have graduate degrees.

did you know?

drafter The scoop: Drafters take designs from engineers and architects. Then they turn them into technical plans.

You might be a good drafter if:  You enjoy using computers  You like to be part of a team  You’re good at spotting details and problems What do drafters do?  Turn sketches into technical drawings  Create plans for all kinds of products: toys, toasters, skyscrapers, spaceships, and more  Use special computer programs to create design plans  Work on a team with engineers and architects How to get there: Most drafters complete a technical program or twoyear college degree.

In 1939, a newspaper in San Antonio wrote that cars would one day be folded into a neat and tidy suitcase. Unfortunately, we haven’t gotten there yet, but we may start seeing driverless cars on the road in the next few years. As of 2013, General Motors, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Audi, Nissan, Toyota, BMW, and Volvo are all beginning to test driverless cars that use radar and GPS to navigate their environment.

Source: www.ianallanford.co.uk; www.forbes.com

did you know?

“Architects make civilization not only possible, but also beautiful.” —Frank Lloyd Wright Wright was an American drafter and architect in the 20th century and is said to be the greatest American architect. He designed more than 1,000 buildings in his lifetime. One of his best-known masterpieces is the Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

Source: www.franklloydwright.org

Landscape architect The scoop: Landscape architects design areas for spaces like parks, playgrounds, and gardens.

You might be a good landscape architect if:  You like to spend time outside  You enjoy working with other people  You’re good at coming up with creative solutions What do landscape architects do?  Fix damaged places like wetlands or rivers  Design gardens that collect storm water or trap air pollution  Repair historic places  Design new public places such as parks  Use computers to create models of new landscape designs How to get there: Most landscape architects need a college degree. Some need a graduate degree.

They must also earn a landscape architect’s license.

did you know?

One person can drastically affect the way America looks. Beginning in 1857, landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and his firm created the designs for more than 6,000 green spaces across North America. Some of Olmsted’s most famous green spaces are Central Park in New York City and Niagara Falls State Park.

He is single-handedly responsible for preserving much of the natural space of environments all across North America.

civil engineer The scoop: Civil engineers design big construction projects like dams, bridges, and water-supply systems.

You might be a good civil engineer if:  You want to build big things  You’re good at math and problem solving  You have good writing skills What do civil engineers do?  Study reports and maps to plan projects  Learn about government rules and apply for project permits  Test soil and building materials  Use computers to design new projects  Test buildings to make sure they are safe and strong How to get there: Civil engineers need a college degree. Some have a graduate degree. They usually need to earn an engineer’s license.

did you know?

The oldest example of civil engineering is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Great Pyramid at Giza is at least 5,000 years old. It was the tallest man-made structure in the world for nearly 4,000 years, which is even more impressive when you consider that it was built as a tomb.

Source: www.nationalgeographic.com

Source: www.nps.gov

LEarN MOrE

Engineer Your Path http://bit.ly/1hZLQUJ Girls Who Engineer www.engineergirl.org

Photos: drafter, © Daniel Kaesler/Herrera/Thinkstock; automotive engineer, © Wavebreak Media/Thinkstock; landscape architect, © Karin Dreyer/Blend/Media Bakery; civil engineer, © Barry Austin/Media Bakery.

The scoop: Automotive engineers create the ideas, designs, and machine parts for cars.

Problem Solving With

M Th

These awesome jobs have one thing in common: Killer math skills! But these jobs aren’t just about numbers. Depending on your path, you’ll also need creativity, communication skills, and/or a love of the outdoors. Math comes in handy in many kinds of careers.

actuary The scoop: Actuaries estimate how likely certain events are—and how much they might cost.

What do actuaries do?  Use computers to gather and analyze data for insurance companies and other clients  Estimate the likelihood of certain events—such as illnesses, accidents, floods, or fires—occurring  Figure out how much those events are likely to cost  Produce charts and reports to explain their estimates

Land surveyor The scoop: Land surveyors map the environment to determine property borders.

You might be a good land surveyor if:  You want to work outdoors  You like gadgets  You pay attention to small details

look for oil or find hazards that could damage boats  Use tools like scanners, cameras, and computers to measure distances and make maps

What do land surveyors do?  Take measurements to help architects and builders plan new construction  Map crime scenes for court cases  Survey land under the ocean to

How to get there: Some land surveyors learn by being an apprentice. (They train with an experienced land surveyor.) Others get a four-year college degree.

did you know?

Land surveying goes back as far as Stonehenge. Humans have used the mathematical process of land surveying as a way of dividing up land and creating boundaries for centuries. The work of this STEM career can be seen in the perfect lines and angles of classic Greek and Roman buildings—many of which are still standing today.

Source: www.landsurveyors.com

How to get there: Actuaries need a college degree. They must pass a series of exams to become certified.

did you know?

You can use math to predict your life span.

Using data and health information, actuaries can crunch the numbers for a group of people and figure out how long they will live. And the great part of predicting the future is that they can also help change it. Actuaries provide great information to the doctors and nurses who help us live long, healthy lives.

Source: www.ssa.gov

Statistician The scoop: Statisticians collect and analyze data to solve real-world problems.

You might be a good statistician if:  You’re logical and a critical thinker  You’re good at creating categories and solving math problems  You can write and speak well to communicate your findings What do statisticians do?  Use statistical methods to solve practical problems in science, engineering, business, and other fields  Decide what statistical methods will best solve a particular problem  Design surveys, polls, or experiments to collect data  Analyze and interpret the data  Present findings in ways that other team members can understand How to get there: Statisticians usually have a college degree, plus a graduate degree in statistics or math.

did you know?

Fun facts brought to you by statisticians. Statisticians review all kinds of data and come up with important statistics as well as just-for-fun facts, like the ones below.

• One person uses about 57 sheets of toilet paper per day

financial analyst

• In Canada, 0.3% of all accidents involve a moose The scoop: Financial analysts help people manage their money.

You might be a good financial analyst if:  You’re a good communicator  You have strong math and computer skills  You can make quick decisions What do financial analysts do?  Learn about financial history and

new money trends companies’ financial information  Help clients figure out the best ways to invest their money  Work with other analysts  Study

How to get there: Financial analysts must have a college degree. Many

also need a graduate degree. They also must earn a special professional license or certificate.

did you know?

Current events affect the economy every minute of the day. You can find tons of newspapers and articles on a financial analyst’s desk. They have to keep up with social, political, and media trends, which makes them pretty interesting people to talk to.

• Only 30% of people can flare their nostrils • The average person has more than 1,460 dreams per year Source: www.omgfacts.com; www.dslreports.com; http://factfanatic.com

LEarN MOrE

Mad About Math Jobs! http://1.usa.gov/1migVIs Math Games for Your Brain! http://1.usa.gov/1migYEc

Photos: land surveyor, © Dmitry Kalinovsky/Thinkstock; financial analyst, © Andrey Popov/Thinkstock; actuary, © Nick White and Fiona Jackson-Downes/Media Bakery; statistician, © Paul Bradbury/Media Bakery.

You might be a good actuary if:  You’re interested in the future  You like to understand why events happen  You’re good at explaining complex information

STEM

ruthe farmer chief Strategy & Growth Officer for the National Center for Women & information Technology Q. What kind of work does the National Center for Women & Information Technology do?

A. We are working to increase women’s and girls’ participation in technology careers. Though women earn 56% of college degrees, only 18% of computer science degrees are awarded to women. We want women participating equally in designing the technical world we all inhabit. I personally want girls to have access to the high-paying, exciting jobs in technology.

Q. What do you love most about technology and/or engineering?

A. Engineering is about problem solving and making the world a better place. Engineers literally make the designed world, and they have an impact on everything we use in our lives. I challenge anyone to spend one day, or even one hour without utilizing something that was made by an engineer.

Q. What kind of work does a chief strategy and growth officer do?

A. I figure out the best ways to achieve our organization’s mission. We have a big job to do, and that requires finding innovative ways to do things—that’s the strategy, partners, and resources to help us—that’s the growth.

Q. What challenges did you have to overcome in your career?

A. It took me a few years to find my passion. I spent a few years in jobs that I didn’t care much about. I was good at the work, but not passionate about it. I’m the kind of person who puts 100% into what I do, and it’s pretty unfulfilling to pour your heart and soul into something that doesn’t matter to you. Girls in engineering is the perfect focus for my creative side and my interest in equality and women’s rights.

Q. What’s your advice for a kid who wants to be in either technology or engineering?

A. Do the math. I know everyone says that, but it’s true.

Having strong math skills makes learning a math-based

subject that much easier. And don’t buy into the idea that you can’t do math or don’t have the math gene. Like anything else worth doing, mastering math takes work. Do the work and practice, and you will eventually get it.

Q. What are the skills you use most often in your job?

A. Storytelling. I know that sounds odd, but it is true. I have found that the best way to get people on your side is to tell compelling stories. I tell stories about students, teachers, and volunteers, and that inspires people to help us.

Q. What would people be surprised to find out about your job?

A. I spend much of my day on Facebook and other social media. A lot of what I do is about networking and also paying attention to news and looking for opportunities. I also use Facebook to stay in touch with thousands of girls across the country. It lets me participate in their lives from afar and help them when necessary.

Q. Was school hard or easy for you?

A. K–12 and college were pretty straightforward—as in all the steps made sense. I would not say easy. Nothing with value should be easy to get, and education is the most valuable thing you can acquire. The most difficult thing I remember from college was writing a 20-page research paper in German. I remember my brain physically hurting from thinking so hard. Graduate school was another story.

I went to graduate school in the UK, so I had to learn an entirely new style of education in addition to getting back into formal education after being out of school for many years.

Q. Who’s your biggest inspiration and why?

A. My maternal grandmother, Emma Edgett, is my biggest inspiration. Hands down. She is 92 now and still has more energy than most people. She is one of the most resourceful people I have ever known. She is tenacious and is great at inspiring and enlisting others in whatever cause she is working on. I’d like to think I get a lot of my chutzpah and grit from her.

Q. What did being involved in Camp Fire do for you?

A. I moved a lot as a kid, and Camp Fire was one of the ways I could get connected to other kids in my community.

I went to my first weekend sleepover with Camp Fire. I remember being really scared to go to a sleepover without knowing anyone, but it turned out to be lots of fun.

Q. What has been the greatest moment in your career so far?

A. That’s a tough one. In 2013, the White House named me a Champion of Change for Technology Inclusion. That was an amazing experience. That same year I was invited to speak at the European parliament in Brussels and the United Nations in Geneva. 2013 was a pretty big year.

Jolene huen iT database analyst for Principal financial Group Q. What does an IT database analyst do?

A. An IT database analyst supports and maintains the data that drives a company’s day-to-day operations. This includes: a. building the data structures b. ensuring the data is backed up and recoverable c. analyzing the performance of applications that access the data Q. What area of this field do you work in?

A. I specialize in performance tuning of applications that access the data.

Performance tuning is the improvement of system performance. This is typically associated with computer systems.

When a customer comes to our website, they need to be able to get the information they need quickly. If the website “sits and spins,” the customer is likely to take their business somewhere else! It’s my job to make sure they don’t!

Sits and Spins refers to when a web page has trouble loading and the spinning wheel or hourglass show up on screen.

Q. What do you love most about technology?

A. My favorite part of my job is problem solving. I love taking something that isn’t working well (or sometimes isn’t working at all), figuring out what the problem is, and finding a way to make it work.

Q. What are the skills you use most often as an IT database analyst?

A. Problem solving, logic, trial and error, and attention to detail.

Q. How and when did you know you wanted to be an IT database analyst?

A. The job just sort of fell in my lap! I always loved math— even though it was not where my highest scores were on standardized tests! I loved the challenge of following steps to get to an answer—and if the answer was wrong, finding where I went wrong in the steps and fixing it. I went to college as a math major and took a few computer classes,

just for fun. As I got closer to graduation, I asked my advisor what I could do with a math degree. Since I didn’t want to teach or be an accountant or an actuary, he suggested I take a few more computer classes to gain a “marketable skill.” I started with my company as a COBOL programmer on one of the first database applications in the company.

COBOL, an acronym for common business-oriented language, is a compiled computer programming language designed for business use.

I moved into a database analyst position as an opportunity to rotate to a different area of the company. My experience as a programmer allowed me to have a good understanding of how the data I support is used, which led to more experience with coding questions, which led to learning more about how to code efficiently.

Q. What would people be surprised to find out about your job?

A. Every day is different—not boring at all!

Q. Was school hard or easy for you?

A. Mostly easy.

Q. Who’s your biggest inspiration and why?

A. Two people come to mind. Both of them are people who know and understand a complex part of the computer system, but have a way of explaining that makes it easy to understand the basics and that allows someone to build knowledge from there. They have both retired now and I miss their expertise.

Q. What did being involved in Camp Fire do for you?

A. I was involved in Camp Fire through elementary and middle school. Club participation allowed me to explore different areas as I worked toward various honors. Camp was a magical place for me. It was a place where I could go to make new friends, try new things, sing new songs, and eat new foods. It was also a place I could go back to year after year and find old friends, encourage younger campers, look up to older campers/ staff, reach for the next level in various honors, and, most importantly, carry on traditions—traditions that are still near to my heart today!

Q. What has been the greatest moment in your career so far?

A. The greatest moment in my career so far was probably getting to know one of the people who inspires me. She is an internationally recognized expert and presenter on efficient coding. I had seen her present several times, and one time I knew she would be staying in the same hotel for a conference, so I invited her to dinner. We had a wonderful time not talking about work and now make a habit of having dinner any time we are at a conference together. It may not have gotten me a promotion, but it was fun to get to know such a smart person and call her my friend.

Photos: Ruthe Farmer, courtesy of Ruthe Farmer; Jolene Huen, courtesy of Jolene Huen.

camp fire alumni in

STEM Personality quiz

Engineering Our Community

What kind of STEM Whiz are you?

Do you love numbers? Or are you a scientist at heart? Do you like tech tools? Or do you want to design new things? Take the quiz to find out which STEM career field is your perfect fit!

1

Which science fair project sounds like the most fun? a. Removing DNA from vegetables b. Designing a new cell phone app c. Making a solar-powered model car d. Figuring out the best angle for a winning basketball shot

2

You have a day off from school.

What do you do all afternoon? a. Train your family pet b. Surf the Internet c. Build a model rocket d. Study baseball batting averages

3

You’re bored in study hall and doodling in your notebook. What do you draw? a. The solar system b. Your favorite video game characters c. Cars and airplanes d. 3D shapes like cubes and cylinders

4

Which adjective describes you best? a. Curious b. Forward-thinking c. Creative d. Logical

5

You’re stuck in the car on a long, boring trip. You decide to play a counting game to pass the time. What do you count? a. Types of trees b. Car models c. Bridges and tunnels d. The number of miles you travel

Mostly A’s: You might be a super scientist. Science is a great choice for curious people who want to find out how the world works!

Mostly C’s: You might be an engineering genius. Engineers design the products and systems that keep society moving!

Mostly B’s: You might be a tech whiz. Tech careers are perfect for people who like to be on the cutting edge!

Mostly D’s: You might be a master mathematician. Lots of great jobs need people who are good at numbers!

Photo: © Pamela Moore /iStockphoto.

if you answered…