Facilitator organizations enhance learning and action through citizen science: a case study of Girl Scouts’ Think Like a Citizen Scientist journey on SciStarter

Abstract

Engagement in citizen science can result in participant outcomes including increased science and environmental literacy and civic action. One factor which may increase the likelihood of these outcomes is facilitation by groups such as employers, schools, or other organizations. We examined how a partnership between SciStarter and Girl Scouts of the USA facilitated participation in citizen science to shape participants’ learning and civic engagement. Between July 2017 and February 2020, participants from over 200 Girl Scout troops completed the Think Like a Citizen Scientist Journey, consisting of science learning activities, participation in an environmental citizen science project on SciStarter, and a Take Action Project (TAP). Troop leaders provided open-ended descriptions of TAPs which we analyzed qualitatively. Responses provided evidence of learning outcomes spanning informal science learning goals, Girl Scout Leadership Experience outcomes, and Girl Scout STEM outcomes. Participants’ TAPs overwhelmingly related to science and environmental topics (81%) and the majority sought to educate and inspire others (66%), reaching audiences of peers, adults, the general public, and civic leaders. This program demonstrates the potential for facilitator organizations to leverage existing citizen science projects to promote learning outcomes, civic science education, and community action with participants as young as 4–5 years old.

Keywords:

• Informal science education
• civic science education
• peer-to-peer learning
• intergenerational learning
• civic action
• community science literacy

Acknowledgements

The authors would first like to thank all of the Girl Scouts and Troop Leaders who participated in and shared their experiences with the Think Like a Citizen Scientist Journey. We would also like to thank Lawrencia Teris for her time and assistance with qualitative coding, as well as all members of the SciStarter team who provided logistical support throughout the development of the Journey and the research process. Finally, we would like to acknowledge the support of National Science Foundation AISL award #1713562, which partially supported HES and CBC in this work.

Disclosure statement

SH, AM, KM, and LT were involved in this work as part of their employment with Girl Scouts of the USA. DC is the founder of SciStarter.org and helped to develop SciStarter’s partnership with GSUSA and the Think Like a Citizen Scientist Journey.