Take Our Kids to Work

Career Exploration for kids ages 8-11! Activities encourage confidence, inquis

itiveness, and resilience through participation in activities that introduce them to the broad range of science-, environmental-, and engineering-based careers fostered at ESF. Session leaders supervise experiments or facilitate discussions and role-playing. Invited quests answer questions about what they do on the job, and why they like to do it. Many of our students and employees are also active in the larger community, and sometimes activities feature this aspect of their lives. Members of the ESF community serve as escorts between sessions.

Why daughters and why this age-range?
This national event was launched in 1993 by the Ms. Foundation as a response to studies by Harvard University, American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the Minnesota Women's Fund, which indicate that a girl's self esteem, confidence in intellectual development, and interest in math, science, and technology (and thus their chance at a variety of future jobs) plummet as they advance toward adolescence. Other studies have shown that girls are more likely to see themselves as scientists and engineers when they perceive these fields to be relevant to their lives. Girls even have fewer fictional role models, as children's literature and television generally feature boys in the starring and most other roles (See Jane.org).

By encouraging girls to develop an early interest in careers that require math and science, and ultimately, maintain that interest as they grow up, we help ensure a more diverse, dynamic, and productive workforce in the future. Additional findings show that children, both girls and boys, assign gender to a host of professions, and it is therefore important for them to interact with female role models, and envision both women and men in a variety of careers. Former astronaut Sally Ride recommends introducing girls to women scientists to "allow them to put a female face on these careers." She also stresses the importance of involving parents and preventing the perpetuation of stereotypes that girls are not good at math or science.

We encourage you to look for additional options for your older or younger child, or for you to arrange to "shadow" you, a relative or family friend.

Why sons? The program was expanded in 2003 in response to comments by fathers that they, too, want balance between work and other aspects of their lives, and the realization that for girls to reach their full potential in the workplace, community, and at home, their future coworkers and partners must be encouraged to do the same.

When? The National "Take our Daughters and Sons to Work^® D ay" is the fourth Thursday in April, and schools are encouraged to build on the program when kids return to regularly scheduled classes on Friday. However, ESF's program is generally held on a Friday when a larger number of laboratory spaces are available. We also try to avoid scheduling during religious holidays or during statewide testing, so additional shifting may occur.

What about missing school? School districts may not recognize this as an excused absence, and you may need to make arrangements with your child's school. The excused absence form (above) explains the ESF program, and should facilitate your communication with your child's teacher and/or principal.

Sounds great, but I don't have kids. "Our" daughters and sons includes all the children in your life. So bring nieces and nephews, grandchildren, neighbors and friends, and/or volunteer to facilitate an activity, escort kids to and from sessions, or to assist a session leader.

What else do I need to know ?
Our program offers a combination of same gender sessions and combined learning experiences. In addition, we feature different activities each year so that children can try out a broader variety of careers, and to share the benefits, and costs, of the programs across campus.

Because space is limited, registration is required. Registration forms will be available about one month prior to the program. To register your child, niece, nephew, neighbor, etc., send the form above to Heather Engelman, 107 Marshall Hall.

It takes a lot of coordination to make sure everyone gets where they need to be. The registration form includes room for you to let us know when during the day you can be available to help. This is not required for your child's participation, but is certainly appreciated by the organizers, and a great way for you to check in on your child during the day.

Lunch is provided. Our regular menu is make-your-own sandwich, chips, fruit, cookies and juice. For questions about food, contact Diane Kuehn (dmkuehn@esf.edu).

2009: Dean Cynthia Sedgwick welcomed our kids to campus this year. Kids will head to the chemistry lab to investigate polymers (as well as some oxymorons) with "Bouncing liquids, hard water and ice-less ice cream" (Kelley Donaghey/Julie McGalley). They also checked out dilant properties of "Oobleck" (a suspension of cornstarch in water). Kids also conduct a biodiversity survey with a biologist (Melissa Fierke), and participated in a demonstration with "Losing Your Habit. " In "Engineering a Fountain" (Ted Endreny) they observed the height of a fountain as the velocity of water and the diameter of fountain were altered, and then used this information in the preliminary design of a foundtain. "Bits, Bytes, and Bugs" demonstrated how viruses and spyware snatch credit card information, social security numbers, and passwords; slow a computer down, and even corrupt pictures of Aunt Sue. Finally, kids learned the history of "Morris Dancing," as well as the songs and steps of one of the dances with Maria Hosmer-Briggs and others from the Bassett Street Hounds. (Interested parties may now join the Hounds, May 1, 6 am, Thornden Park to awaken May Day).

2008: Kids visited a botany lab to propagate moss (Shana Gross and Brittany Cronk), Outreach to discuss "food miles" (Nicole Werner), a chemistry lab to "extract from the environment" (Kelley Donaghey/Julie McGalley), a soils lab to get "the dirt on dirt" (Ruth Yanai), the quad/greenhouses to determine "Ladybugs: friend or foe?" (Melissa Fierke and Terry Ettinger) and participated in a "self-defense/cardio-kickboxing seminar" (Marcia Barber). Financial and other support for the program came from the Provost's Office, Alumni Association/Small Stores, Moon Library, The Office of the Vice President for Administration, and Computing and Network Services. Supplies for activities were courtesy of the Departments of Chemistry, Environmental and Forest Biology, and Forest and Natural Resources Management.

2007: Janine DeBaise introduced the program, and facilitated introductions. This year's sessions included Clean and Green: Household Chemistry (Becky Jarrell), Yoga (Mary Hagemann), Buds and Bugs (an ecotourism hike with Diane Kuehn), Landscape Architecture (Robin Hoffman), and We all need trees (can you identify which everyday items use wood ingredients? Many more than most would expect--Heather Engelman). Who am I? guests represented a wood decay specialist (Sue Anagnost), a hydrologist (Laura Lautz) and a environmental writing instructor (Maria Hosmer-Briggs). Financial and other support for the program came from the Provost's Office, Alumni Association/Small Stores, Moon Library, The Office of Communications, and Wegmans. Supplies for activities were courtesy of the Faculties of Chemistry and Landscape Architecture. Back to Top

2006: Janine DeBaise introduced the program, and facilitated introductions, asking each participant to tell a little bit about what they like to do, and what they might like to be when they grow up. Smaller groups then headed off to lessons in Microbiology (Annette Kretzer), engineering (The world in maps and images-Lindi Quackenbush), Information literacy (Internet scavenger hunt-Jo Anne Ellis), and Chemistry (Molecules in motion-a chemical expedition-Julie McGaulley). Who am I? guests represented analytical (Deb Driscoll) and environmental chemistry (Sarah Fitzpatrick). And because we hope our kids have a healthy work-life balance, they concluded the program with a cardio-kickboxing/self defense seminar (Marcia Barber, with trusty assistants Heather Engelman, Andrea Baird, and Tim Blehar). Financial and other support for the program came from Admissions, Alumni Association, Computing and Network Services, the Provost's Office, Moon Library, and News and Publications. Back to Top

2005: Raydora Drummer opened the program with "A cold wind blows", a diversity appreciation and get-to-know one another activity. The kids then divided into smaller groups to investigate chemistry (Amusing Molecules--Julie McGaulley and States of Matter--Marlene Braun), environmental law and policy (Pollution Solutions--Sharon Moran and Thane Joyal), and Landscape Architecture (Playground design--Scott Shannon). Special guests Lee MacBeth and Heather LeFever were quizzed in 20-question style about what they do in the community. Now that their identities have been revealed by the inquisitive participants, we can share that Lee is the Watershed Coordinator for Skaneateles Lake, and Heather is a volunteer firefighter--she also teaches biology at Henninger High School. Back to Top

2004: Acclimatizing Venus Fly Traps (Linda Polin), Papermaking (Senior PSE students), Community Design (Ellen Soffa and Scott Shannon), Who am I? (Sue Senecah, Chris Langlois, Janet Marsden), Fun with Chemistry (Julie McGaulley)

2003: Microfungus among us (June Wang and Cathy Catranis), The Wonderful World of Chemistry (Venera Jouraeva), Who am I? (Tory Gray, Jim Williamson, Karin Limburg, Lisa Engelman), Going the Distance (Heather Engelman), Down and Dirty (Ruth Yanai)

Odean, Kathleen. 1997. Great Books for Girls: More than 600 books to inspire today's girls and tomorrow's women. Ballantine trade paperback. See description at http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/promos/greatbooks/

Readings about girls and boys in American education:

Gender Gaps: Where schools still fail our children, American Association for University Women, 1998.

Ong, Walter, 1981. Fighting for Life. Cornell Univerisity Press.

Orenstien, Peggy. 1994. Schoolgirls: young women, self-esteem, and the confidence gap. Doubleday.

Sadker, Myra and Sadker, David. 1993. Failing at Fairness: How our schools
cheat girls. Touchstone.

Shortchanging Girls, Shortchanging America: A Call to Action, American Association for) University Women, 1991.

and, if your own career decisions were affected by previous participation in a Take our Daughters or Daughters and Sons to Work Day program, the Ms. Foundation would like to hear from you. Please use the link below to reach their survey.