Girls & Science Kick-Off Event adds Teen Zone

CBS Colorado and partners expand annual STEM celebration for young women

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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CBS Colorado and its partners are adding a new Teen Zone to this year's Girls & Science Kick-Off Event, a month-long celebration of women in STEM fields. The Teen Zone will offer more advanced programming and activities geared towards girls aged 13 and older, including a rain barrel building demonstration from Swire Coca-Cola and a "Science of Self-Care" workshop from Girls Inc. of Metro Denver.

Why it matters

The Teen Zone is an important addition to the long-running Girls & Science event, as it aims to keep older girls engaged and excited about STEM careers by providing more mature content and activities. Inspiring young women to pursue STEM fields is crucial, as women remain underrepresented in many science, technology, engineering, and math professions.

The details

The Girls & Science Kick-Off Event is the centerpiece of a month-long celebration of women in STEM, hosted by CBS Colorado in partnership with organizations like Ping Identity, Girls Inc of Metro Denver, DaVita, Xcel Energy, and Denver Health. Thousands of girls and their families attend the free event at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, where businesses and groups set up booths with STEM activities and information. This year, the new Teen Zone will offer more advanced programming for girls aged 13 and up, including a rain barrel building demo from Swire Coca-Cola and a "Science of Self-Care" workshop from Girls Inc.

  • The Girls & Science Kick-Off Event is on Friday, March 6, 2026 from 4 - 8 p.m.

The players

Girls & Science

An annual month-long celebration of women in STEM fields, hosted by CBS Colorado and partners.

Swire Coca-Cola

A company participating in the new Teen Zone at the Girls & Science Kick-Off Event, offering a rain barrel building demonstration and sustainability-focused activities.

Girls Inc of Metro Denver

An organization hosting a "Science of Self-Care" workshop in the Teen Zone at the Girls & Science Kick-Off Event.

Amariah Jean-Baptiste

The Teen Programs Manager with Girls Inc of Metro Denver.

Allison Barrett

The Director of Public Relations and Government Affairs with Swire Coca-Cola.

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What they’re saying

“The Teen Zone is really important this year because we wanted a way for every age group to connect with topics in STEM. The Teen Zone helps sort of spark that early curiosity so we can keep that momentum going.”

— Amariah Jean-Baptiste, Teen Programs Manager, Girls Inc of Metro Denver (cbsnews.com)

“We will have some of repurposed Coca-Cola syrup barrels that we'll show attendees how to turn them into rain barrels that they can use in home gardens, and we'll be sharing some of our sustainability programming and really getting girls excited and engaged with possible careers in STEM.”

— Allison Barrett, Director of Public Relations and Government Affairs, Swire Coca-Cola (cbsnews.com)

“We're so excited to be involved in the Teen Zone and Girls & Science in general. It's just a space where youth and teens are able to be encouraged in those STEM fields, how they get to meet amazing mentors, they get to do fun STEM activities, and all of those things help them see themselves in the journey of actually having a STEM career.”

— Amariah Jean-Baptiste, Teen Programs Manager, Girls Inc of Metro Denver (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Girls & Science Kick-Off Event is free to attend, but registration is encouraged to help organizers gauge attendance. The event takes place on Friday, March 6, 2026 from 4 - 8 p.m. at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

The takeaway

The addition of a Teen Zone to the Girls & Science Kick-Off Event demonstrates the organizers' commitment to engaging girls of all ages in STEM fields. By offering more advanced activities and programming for older girls, the event aims to maintain their interest and excitement about potential STEM careers, helping to address the persistent gender gap in many science, technology, engineering, and math professions.