For Tammy Wharton, President and CEO of Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland, it started as a dream. Or, more specifically, a hand-drawn note on a napkin.
Five years ago, Wharton, other Girl Scout leaders, and local partners began to visualize a learning environment where Girl Scouts and community members could explore the world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Wharton saw the project as an opportunity to dream big.
“We had an idea of what we wanted. We knew this could be as big as we dreamed,” said Wharton.
After visiting STEM centers throughout the country and gathering feedback from Girl Scouts and the community, a plan emerged. In 2022, Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland—which serves 14,000 girls ages 5-17 across central Ohio—launched the Dream Big Transformational Initiative, a $16 million capital campaign to build a state-of-the-art STEM center in central Ohio.
Exterior of the Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland AEP Foundation STEM Leadership Center and CK Construction Maker Space.
In October 2024, Wharton’s dream became a reality when the Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland opened the AEP Foundation STEM Leadership Center and CK Construction Maker Space, the largest Girl Scout STEM Center in the United States. The 25,000-square-foot facility—located just a short drive away from downtown Columbus at Camp Ken-Jockety in Galloway—provides a place for Girl Scouts to engage in immersive STEM experiences. Through hands-on programs, girls can learn about robotics, chemistry, astronomy, environmental science, construction, food science, and more.
“We want girls to be given opportunities to discover STEM careers and to develop skills and interests that they may not have otherwise had, simply because they are girls.”
TAMMY WHARTON, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GIRL SCOUTS OF OHIO’S HEARTLAND
One of the goals of the center is to introduce young girls to STEM career paths, helping to fuel the future workforce and close the gender gap in STEM. Currently, women make up roughly half of the workforce in the United States. Yet, they remain drastically underrepresented in STEM fields—from computers and mathematics to architecture and engineering.
As Wharton explained, early exposure to STEM education is crucial, particularly for girls. Research shows that young girls’ interest in STEM typically diminishes by age 11 and continues to decline over the course of their education.
Interior of the Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland AEP Foundation STEM Leadership Center and CK Construction Maker Space.
“We want girls to be given opportunities to discover STEM careers and to develop skills and interests that they may not have otherwise had, simply because they are girls,” said Wharton. “We want them to have the confidence and courage to reach for the stars.”
Wharton expressed her deep gratitude for the many generous donors—including businesses, nonprofits, Girl Scout troops, and individuals—who brought the STEM center to life through the Dream Big campaign. The Columbus Foundation, its Supporting Foundations, and its donors have awarded several grants to support the initiative, and the Foundation was among the first organizations to make a large investment in the capital campaign.
Although the STEM center houses programs specifically for Girl Scouts, Wharton said it’s also a place for the community, including local schools, companies, and families.
“We have an amazing facility, and we want to share it. There’s something here for everybody,” said Wharton. “This new center is more than just the programs and activities. It’s about making a better future for our girls, for our youth, and for our community.”