About
GeoGirls is a 5-day, 4-night geology and technology camp where participants tour Mount St. Helens, visit researchers in action, and conduct a focused research project with real scientists. During the session, they visit the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory, conduct a volcanic crisis mission, and explore sites such as the Trail of Two Forests, Ape Cave, and the Mount St. Helens Visitors Center at Seaquest State Park. The program also includes poster presentations at Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, Washington.
• Ages: 12–18 years old
• Schedule: Monday, August 3 – Friday, August 7, 2026; a 5-day, 4-night camp
• Price: This program is FREE for all youth. GeoGirls is free to participants thanks to grants, business sponsorships, and generous donors.
The Mount St. Helens Institute, founded in 1992, runs GeoGirls as part of its mission to advance understanding and stewardship of the Earth through science, education, and exploration of volcanic landscapes. Mount St. Helens Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and an equal opportunity provider. It manages volunteers at the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and offers community events both on and off the mountain, and it states that it is honored to work on the Traditional Cultural Property, ancestral and present day lands of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. Families are responsible for transporting their girls to the drop off location and picking them up at the end of the camp, and Mount St. Helens Institute provides all transportation during the week; there is no cell service at the site and wi-fi is turned off before 10 am and after 4 pm.
One 2024 GeoGirl described GeoGirls as a program for middle-school girls, inclusive of trans, that builds interest in earth science and confidence in both individual and collaborative pursuits, and said it takes the mystery out of what it means to be a scientist and exposes youth to types and topics of science they never knew existed or want to learn more about. Another 2024 GeoGirl said GeoGirls is unique because it offers opportunities for students who identify as female or nonbinary to learn more about science from women in different STEM professions and to see that they belong in a field where women are typically underrepresented. A Volcano Outdoor School teacher in 2024 described the experience as something children will remember their entire lives, with lots of activities, a beautiful environment, and very nice facilities.
Last updated January 5, 2026.
• Ages: 12–18 years old
• Schedule: Monday, August 3 – Friday, August 7, 2026; a 5-day, 4-night camp
• Price: This program is FREE for all youth. GeoGirls is free to participants thanks to grants, business sponsorships, and generous donors.
The Mount St. Helens Institute, founded in 1992, runs GeoGirls as part of its mission to advance understanding and stewardship of the Earth through science, education, and exploration of volcanic landscapes. Mount St. Helens Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and an equal opportunity provider. It manages volunteers at the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and offers community events both on and off the mountain, and it states that it is honored to work on the Traditional Cultural Property, ancestral and present day lands of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. Families are responsible for transporting their girls to the drop off location and picking them up at the end of the camp, and Mount St. Helens Institute provides all transportation during the week; there is no cell service at the site and wi-fi is turned off before 10 am and after 4 pm.
One 2024 GeoGirl described GeoGirls as a program for middle-school girls, inclusive of trans, that builds interest in earth science and confidence in both individual and collaborative pursuits, and said it takes the mystery out of what it means to be a scientist and exposes youth to types and topics of science they never knew existed or want to learn more about. Another 2024 GeoGirl said GeoGirls is unique because it offers opportunities for students who identify as female or nonbinary to learn more about science from women in different STEM professions and to see that they belong in a field where women are typically underrepresented. A Volcano Outdoor School teacher in 2024 described the experience as something children will remember their entire lives, with lots of activities, a beautiful environment, and very nice facilities.
Last updated January 5, 2026.
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