A group of GeoGirls search for a suitable spot to bury a seismometer next to Coldwater Lake in August 2016 in order to measure foot and boat traffic in the area.
This summer, 30 girls from Washington and Oregon will have the opportunity to traverse rugged volcanic landscapes, undertake scientific inquiry and bond with fellow female scientists thanks to the GeoGirls program.
GeoGirls will select 25 intrepid seventh- and eighth-grade girls who serve as scientists in training, five 10th- through 12th-grade girls who serve as mentors, and four female middle school teachers who lead the big excursion into the geological features that fill the backcountry of the Mount St. Helens National Monument. The mission is to learn about science, volcanoes and each other during the five-day and four-night expedition.
The trip will begin on July 30 and end on Aug. 3, and the rendezvous point is the Mount St. Helens National Monument Headquarters near Amboy. At least one night will be spent at the Mount St. Helens Institute Ridge Camp located on the northeast flank of the volcano. It is a rustic camp near the Cascade Peaks Information Station with canvas walled tents, wood stoves and ooking facilities certified by the health department.
After undertaking scientific experiments in the ashen blast zone, the GeoGirls will move on to the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater. That location is a repurposed visitor center that the GeoGirls will have exclusive access to in order to facilitate their learning and adventures. The facility includes a commercial kitchen and first-rate views of the volcano.
Specific studies on the trip will include, but are not limited to, seismic data collections, water clarity analysis, native vegetation documentation and wildlife observation.
Thanks to a series of generous grants and donors, there is no cost to participate in GeoGirls. However, the application process can be highly competitive, so early, and thorough, entry is encouraged.
Applications are due no later than April 5 and final selections will be announced on April 26. An online application can be accessed at https://tinyurl.com/mzyu5ob.
Questions can be sent to the Mount St. Helens Institute at learn@mshinstitute.org.
