STEM Spotlight: Celebrating a Rising STEMinist and Lifetime Girl Scout
May 21, 2026
In Girl Scouts, we believe every girl can grow into a leader who makes the world a better place - and sometimes we get the joy of watching that journey unfold right before our eyes. Today, we are proud to celebrate one of our own: a dedicated STEMinist who has spent the past several years lifting others through service, data and hands-on learning.
For three years, Molly McGarity has been a steady force behind STEMinist programming, with thoughtful data analysis, evaluation writing and behind-the-scenes coordination. Her work has helped ensure that the STEMinist program is not only fun and engaging, but also meaningful and impactful by evaluating the data. Careful evaluation and reflection are essential parts of strong youth programming, helping leaders understand what works and how to keep improving opportunities for the next season of STEMinist.
A Lifetime Girl Scout with a Passion for Nature and
Learning
Molly’s story is rooted in the Girl Scout
experience. As a lifetime Girl Scout and Gold Award recipient, she
developed a love for nature education early on, inspiring her to
pursue a degree in environmental education and interpretation in
college. Molly loved being a Girl Scout as a kid and wanted to
continue her Girl Scout journey as an adult, beginning her internship
with USA Girl Scouts Overseas in January 2024.
Her path shows what happens when Girl Scouts grow. From attending troop meetings to leading outdoor adventures, Molly’s life and passions have been shaped by her experiences with Girl Scouting.
Bringing STEM to Life at Camps Around the World
One of the most exciting parts of Molly’s journey has been her work at international summer camps hosted by USA Girl Scouts Overseas. Molly’s first summer at Our Chalet, a World Centre in Switzerland in 2023, saw her meet Girl Scouts from many different backgrounds. Research shows that hands-on STEM experiences help girls develop confidence. Molly was able to guide nature activities, support science challenges and encourage girls to ask questions. Molly quickly saw and wanted to be a part of future opportunities for Girl Scouts in STEM and the environment.
Turning Data into Impact
Molly turned that hands-on experience into background knowledge! Molly was curious about how all the details for camp and the STEMinist program could make an impact. Molly put her skills in education, data analysis and evaluation to work through her internship. Beginning in the spring of her sophomore year, Molly joined the USAGSO team as a Member Experience Intern, working on exciting projects like environmental education program design and program data collection and analysis. She asked questions about program participation and wrote surveys that would help guide decision-making, strengthen programming and ensure resources are used wisely. Her efforts helped USAGSO understand what girls were learning and where new opportunities could be created.
Molly has also recently completed her thesis work, which evaluates the five year impact of our international STEM outreach program for Girl Scouts. You can read her thesis here.
We’re Proud of You, Molly! A Leader Ready for the Next Adventure
Now, as Molly prepares to graduate from college, we are filled with excitement about what comes next. She plans to continue her journey in education and environmental learning, with dreams of helping communities connect with nature and science in meaningful ways.
From analyzing data to leading camp activities, from writing evaluations to mentoring younger girls, Molly has demonstrated what it means to live the Girl Scout Promise and Law every day. She has helped build programs that empower girls to explore STEM, discover their strengths and imagine bright futures. As she takes this next step after graduation, we know she will continue to make a difference wherever she goes.
And just like every great STEMinist, she is only getting started!
