courtesy of american girl
American Girl’s 2018 Girl of the Year doll will inspire your kids to shoot for the stars—literally. Luciana Vega, an 11-year-old who dreams of being the first person on Mars, was created with help from NASA scientists and astronauts.
courtesy of american girl
But this American Girl isn’t just about selling super-cool space-inspired products like a Mars habitat, flight suit or telescope. Luciana’s story focuses on the importance of creative thinking, collaboration and STEM opportunities for girls.
.jpg)
courtesy of american girl
“If we have only half the population—or slightly less than half the population—trying to figure out how to navigate this increasingly complex world we live in, we’re not going to do as well,” said former Chief Scientist of NASA Dr. Ellen Stofan, who was also a member of Luciana’s advisory board, “We are not going to do as well if we’re not tapping into the talent of everybody.” Luciana emphasizes the importance of education and visibility of all things science at a time when girls are starting to think about their future.
courtesy of american girl
American Girl’s new doll also includes a STEM-based educational program in partnership with Scholastic and Space Camp, which includes lesson plans, classroom activities, videos and a game on Scholastic’s website (look for it on January 31). Check the American Girl website for info on a Space Camp sweepstakes and STEM activities. Your kids can also join Luciana on interactive missions online, or read stories with STEM-inspired adventures.
American Girl and Scholastic will host a Mission to Mars Sweepstakes, where families can solve challenges for a chance to win prizes, including a trip to Space Camp. The store will also sponsor 20 scholarships to attend Space Camp. In summer 2018, girls can visit a Luciana-themed Space Camp and train just like an astronaut.