How Rosie Riveters Is Inspiring the Next Generation of Girls in STEM
If you're looking for an amazing STEM program for your daughter, then Rosie Riveters at Slover Library in Norfolk, VA is worth checking out!
The HomeschoolED Heroes Team
5/31/20266 min read
There are some programs you sign your child up for hoping they’ll enjoy it.
And then there are programs that become part of your family’s yearly rhythm.
For us, Rosie Riveters has absolutely become the second kind.
Avia has been attending Rosie Riveters programs since 2024, and every single time a new session is announced, her excitement is immediate and genuine. Before we even finish reading the registration information, she’s already asking, “Can I go again this year?!”
And to be honest? We at HomeschoolED Heroes completely understand why.
With Rosie Riveters, the mission goes far beyond simply teaching science or engineering concepts. Their programs are designed to help students build confidence, develop critical thinking skills, strengthen creativity, and explore the endless possibilities available within STEM fields through hands-on learning and mentorship.
And you can feel that mission in every single class.
About the Rosie Riveters Program
The organization offers two sessions each year—one in the spring and one in the fall—which is honestly such a smart approach because it allows more girls throughout the community to have an opportunity to participate. This year’s Spring Session took place at Slover Library located at 235 E Plume Street in Norfolk on the following Saturdays:
April 25
May 2
May 9
May 16
And let me just say this right now:
I genuinely thought getting Avia up at 9 a.m. on four consecutive Saturday mornings was going to be a battle.
I was wrong.
The SECOND I’d say, “Wake up, Avi… it’s time for STEM camp,” she’d practically launch herself out of bed.
That alone says everything.
Building Fun and Creative S.T.E.M. Projects
This year’s projects included:
Solar System Wearables
Pendulum Painting
Blooming Flowers
Greenhouses
And every single project somehow managed to blend creativity, engineering, science, and plain old fun in a way that kept the girls completely engaged.
Project #1: Solar System Jewelry
The Solar System Wearables project was incredibly clever.
The girls created beautiful beaded necklaces representing the planets and the spacing between them within our solar system. Different colored and sized beads represented the planets themselves, while smaller white beads represented the distance between them. One bead even had a tiny wire wrapped around it to represent Saturn’s rings.
The creativity behind this project was honestly brilliant.
And the pride on the girls’ faces when they finished? Absolutely priceless. Every child walked around holding up their necklace like they had just invented jewelry themselves.
Project #2: Painting With Pendulums
But if we’re being honest… Pendulum Painting may have been Avia’s favorite.
For this project, the girls built an actual suspended pendulum painting system using wooden sticks arranged into a pyramid-shaped structure. A paint bottle was attached with string so it could swing back and forth over paper below, creating beautiful abstract art patterns through motion and gravity.
Listen... I’m not even gonna lie—I wished I was sitting in the class learning how to build it.
The engineering behind it was so cool, and the final artwork looked incredible. It was one of those activities that secretly teaches physics and mechanics while the kids think they’re simply making art.
Project #3: Blooming Flowers
Oh, the things one can do with a long stick, lots of string, some tape, and different colors of felt.
I'm not even sure HOW the girls built these. All I know is that Avia walked out with a flower she built where, when she pulled the strings, the flower petals (made from the petal-shaped felt) moved outward like they were blooming!
In that moment, I knew the women leading these sessions were beyond HomeschoolED Heroes... they were super SHE-roes!
Project #4: DIY Greenhouses
Now the Greenhouses project?
That one completely took the cake.
Each girl built a functioning mini greenhouse out of cardboard, arched plastic straws, and clear plastic wrap that acted as the greenhouse walls and roofing.
Honestly, shout out to Scotch tape because it was apparently holding civilization together that morning.
The finished projects looked AMAZING.
And Rosie Riveters didn’t stop there. Each girl also received two Styrofoam planting cups filled with soil and seeded with oregano and basil so they could actually begin growing something at home.
That combination of engineering, environmental science, gardening, creativity, and hands-on construction is exactly why programs like this matter so much.
The girls aren’t just memorizing information.
They’re building things like:
Experimenting.
Problem-solving.
Thinking critically.
And perhaps most importantly… gaining confidence in their ability to understand STEM concepts.
Interview With An Astronaut!
But the grand finale of the session may have been the coolest moment of all.
To close out the program, the students had the opportunity to virtually meet and interview retired NASA astronaut Captain Wendy Lawrence through a partnership with AstraFemina.
And let me tell you—that room was PACKED with excited children.
Girls of all ages filled the space eagerly waiting to ask questions… and yes, even a few boys managed to sneak into the session, too. And you know what? Everyone was welcomed warmly and encouraged to participate.
Captain Lawrence was absolutely phenomenal with the kids.
She shared incredible wisdom, encouraging students to:
“Always surround yourself with people who want to help you make your dreams come true.”
“It may be hard, but don’t give up.”
“It’s okay to ask for help.”
She also explained the types of education and careers that can lead to becoming an astronaut, including her own educational background in Aeronautical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Ocean Engineering.
And the kids came READY with questions.
Some of our favorites included:
“What do you eat in space?”
“What did the first shuttle you rode on look like?”
“Are there aliens in space?”
“Is it hard to brush your teeth in space?”
Even Avia jumped in with:
“Why can’t we just use airplanes to go to space?”
And honestly? That question sparked one of the coolest conversations of the entire session.
Captain Lawrence answered every question patiently, thoroughly, and with so much warmth that the children immediately connected with her.
We also want to give a huge shoutout to Danice Dittmav, the Rosie Riveter's program director for the Slover Library location, who was absolutely wonderful with both the children and the instructors throughout the entire program.
Why the Rosie Riveters Program Is Special
Programs like Rosie Riveters deserve support, visibility, and community investment because what they’re building extends far beyond crafts and activities.
They’re building confidence.
Curiosity.
Leadership.
Future engineers.
Future scientists.
Future innovators.
And most importantly?
They’re helping young girls truly believe they belong in STEM spaces.
And that matters.
A lot.
(And trust us… this is only the beginning. Stay tuned for our upcoming “Blast From the Past” article where we’ll revisit some of the incredible Rosie Riveters projects and activities from previous years!)
Sign Your Daughter Up To Be A Rosie Riveter!
To learn more about Rosie Riveters — including their programs, mission, upcoming sessions, and even how to start a chapter in your own area — visit their website here:
