Girl Scouts Western Oklahoma is all about breaking barriers for girls, especially within careers dedicated to science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). This 100-year old organization provides opportunities and learning experiences girls might not otherwise have, while encouraging and challenging tomorrow’s female professionals to reach for the stars.

At Girl Scouts Western Oklahoma, we know the importance of mental health — especially for our girls. From 2011 to 2017, major depression among teen girls increased from 12% to 20%, according to theconversation.com. The rate of 10 to 14-year old girls admitted to emergency rooms after deliberate self-harm is on the rise as well, according to jamanetwork.com.

It was winter when Sayre Schaefer walked by the Lions Memorial Park in Norman, Oklahoma. She fondly remembered the time she spent playing softball at that exact park, but even the cold winter air couldn’t make her forget the Oklahoma summer heat and lack of shade during her games.