Troop 1051 Takes on the Crane Design Challenge
February 2, 2023
WESTBROOK—Troop 1051 put on their thinking caps to earn their Junior Crane Design Challenge badges! This STEM-based challenge offers girls the time and space to explore the world of mechanical engineering through working with ordinary recycled objects. Using materials that can be found around the house like cardboard, pencils, paper cups, string, etc., Girl Scouts earn the badge by designing their very own crane, testing it with weights, analyzing results, and finally brainstorming ways to improve their creations.
Not only did the challenge allow the girls to get hands-on experience, but according to Leah Thibault, troop leader of troop 1051, it actually made the girls “build an engineering mindset,” too.
The activity teaches girls about a variety of field-related aspects and terms such as simple versus compound machines, axles, potential energy, kinetic energy, prototypes, and more.
As one of the most male-dominated fields of the 21st century, it’s crucial that girls get experimental and curious engineering from an early age. Troop 1051 is a reminder that with Girl Scouts behind the wheel, the future of engineering is in good hands!
