Date: Thu Aug 13, 4:30 PM EDT - Thu Aug 13, 6:00 PM EDT
Category:
- Entrepreneurship,
- STEM,
- Life Skills
Level:
- Cadettes,
- Seniors,
- Ambassadors,
- Volunteers
Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors, & Ambassadors: Immerse yourself in a high-tech STEM adventure during Step into STEM with Thorlabs on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026 (4:30-6:00 PM) at the Thorlabs headquarters in Newton, NJ. Experience their Mobile Photonics Lab-an innovative, traveling laboratory that brings the science of light to life through hands-on learning and real-world applications in fields like biomedical optics and optical communications. Engage in inquiry-based exploration and discover exciting STEM career pathways as you work toward your STEM Career Exploration badge.
Participants will rotate through three interactive 30-minute sessions:
Session 1: Inside the Mobile Laboratory - Step into a fully equipped photonics lab to explore how light is used in medicine, diagnostics, and communication technologies through hands-on demonstrations.
Session 2: Thorlabs Tour - Take part in a guided tour of the Thorlabs production floor and see how cutting-edge optical technologies are designed and manufactured.
Session 3: Careers & Connections - Join a conference room session to learn about STEM careers, explore pathways through community college and beyond, and connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities.
This is a unique opportunity to experience advanced technology up close while discovering how photonics shapes the world. This is a drop-off program. Council staff will provide ratio. Girl Scout leaders and caregivers may be welcome to stay depending on capacity.
