SPICE provides summer camps and science outreach to support girls developing science identities and interests.

Our origin story

SPICE started in 2008 as the Optical Science Discovery Camp. That first year 15 students ages 11-16 (8 girls, 7 boys) spent 5 days on the UO campus learning about optical science. In 2009 diversity funds became available to scale the program up and make it all about girls. The new Optical Science Discovery Program offered 19 girls 5 days of optics (and other science), sent home science kits, and offered workshops on school days out.

The 2009 campers were so pleased with camp that they often emailed or called the director asking to come back in 2010. Thanks to the devotion of these girls, the simple optics camp grew into a cohort based program. In 2010 a Forensic Investigation camp was added to the menu. In 2011, the Engineering and Computer Science camp came online. In 2012 the program expanded to two weeks.

Since 2009 more than 450 girls have attended SPICE camps. Thousands more have participated in the UO Science Open House and the Science and Invention Fair hosted by the SPICE program.

Demand for camp has been so high, that the program began offering two sessions in the summer of 2016.  In 2022, 120 girls attended SPICE camp. Session 1 ran from July 11th through 22nd. Session 2 ran from August 8th through 19th.

What is SPICE?

SPICE is committed to providing girls with fun, hands-on science experiences. Our goal is to inspire an enduring love of science in every girl who attends SPICE camp. SPICE summer camps are built around established research theory, best practices in informal science education, and nine years of program experience.SPICE provides three cohort-based summer camps in science. Girls join the program the summer following 5th or 6th grade and attend three progressive camps.

More than Meets the Eye: Science Discovery - Rising 6th graders - This camp offers a survey of all sorts of science. Activities are focused on data collection (but don’t tell the campers that). Past activities include the science scavenger hunt, bottle rockets, laser maze, light & waves, and dry ice bubbles.

Whodunit? Forensic Investigation - Rising 7th graders - This camp focuses on techniques for collecting and analyzing data that help solve mysteries. This includes the typical CSI style activities (fingerprints, hair, and fiber, blood) as well as other forensic techniques (geology, paleontology, interrogation) as well as an entire Cemetery Day dedicated to decomposition and lifecycle.

Build It! Maker Camp - Rising 8th graders -campers learn about simple and complex machines, computer programming, and all the physics in between. Then they put their knowledge to work building a series of maker projects such as BEAM bots, e-textiles, and interactive Rube Goldberg Machines. Many SPICE alumni return to the camp as Junior Minions. These volunteers assist with activity set up, chaperone girls, and assist camp leaders in carrying out fun hands-on science.

Partners

SPICE couldn’t do the kind of great outreach we love without our community partners. Past partners have included:

• South Eugene Robotics Team

• Team Duckling

• Nearby Nature

• Oregon Center for Optical, Molecular, and Quantum Science

• Eugene Science Center

If you or your organization would like to become a partner, please email us at spicescience@uoregon.edu.

FUNDING AND SUPPORT

SPICE is funded by support from the University of Oregon and the Oregon Center for Optical, Molecular, and Quantum Science, which provides funds for the director's salary and access to space and equipment. Other support comes from a generous donation from the Rosaria P. Haugland Foundation, as well as small outreach awards from organizations like the International Photonics Society (SPIE), Mitosciences, and donations from individuals and non-profit groups like the Lane County Chapter of the American Association of University Women.

The bulk of funds come from camp tuition. Camp tuition is now $800 for the full two week camp. This is much less expensive than comparable enrichment programs. Still, 40-60% of campers each year need financial support in order to attend camp. For this reason, SPICE presents a yearly crowdfunding opportunity through the University of Oregon.  All donations to the campaign go toward camp scholarships.  In 2024 we were able to award over $8000 in scholarships, supporting 28 girls to attend, including 12 full cost scholarships (including wraparound care).

Our Mission

Our mission is to collaborate in creating a learning environment where girls can thrive in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This broad goal is achieved by enhancing the science experiences of middle and high school girls through a set of proven intervention strategies, including:

• Mentoring

• Early hands-on research experience

• Role models

• Access to Information and Equipment

• Building a Community of Young Scientists 

goals

• To increase the number of women participating in the highest levels of STEM careers, particularly the physical sciences.

• To increase the number of women attaining advanced degrees in all STEM fields.

• To contribute to a scientifically literate society by introducing a new generation of women to scientific inquiry.

challenges

• The identified causes of women's under-representation in STEM are:

  • Early socialization

  • Lower self-confidence, particularly in male-dominated fields

  • Lower expectations from parents, teachers and others

  • Less "tinkering" or hands-on experience

  • Exclusive teaching practices in introductory STEM courses

  • Lack of critical mass