An AI-powered chatbot, a beach cat videogame, and a stress management website were among the projects presented at the 2023 UArizona Girls Who Code Project Showcase. The club aims to close the gender gap in technology by offering free coding classes to 6–12 graders. It’s taught by UArizona graduate and undergraduate students.

“Girls Who Code is totally worth it,” says Alysia Seery, a sixth grader at Alice Vail Middle School. “It is really fun, and the facilitators are nice.” At the Project Showcase, students were stationed at laptops and demonstrated their projects to spectators.

In March of this year, four firefighters from the Tempe Fire Department, Station 2 came to visit us at our day program. They showed us their fire truck and all of their gear.

I had the chance to interview one of them. Firefighter Tony said they prioritize their career, family and friends by helping family first. He said that the fire department’s primary role is protecting the city. He said that it is their responsibility when there isn’t an emergency is to make sure the city is safe. He said his favorite part of being a firefighter is helping people.

Picture this: A huge shark is hoisted onto a research boat. Three people rush to secure her—to stop her from thrashing around and getting hurt. Who are these people? Why have they brought a shark on deck? Are they… sitting on her?

Two of the participants in this crazy scene are Brooke Anderson and Beckah Campbell. These brave scientists conduct research at the Sulikowski Shark and Fish Research Lab at ASU in Glendale. Wait. People research sharks in the desert? Yes!

On Jan. 27, 2023, Disneyland started hosting a 100 Years Of Wonder Celebration with a new attraction and nighttime spectaculars. Visitors to the park will be able to experience the 100th birthday of the Walt Disney Company.

A new attraction called Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway was open for guests to try. The new attraction takes place in a screening room and once the film begins, guests become part of the movie. There are sound effects and a shaking train car.

The PHX Sky Train transports travelers at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The first line was opened in 2013, the second in 2014 and recently 2.5 miles were added, extending the line from Terminal 3 to the rental car center.

This $745 million dollar project is being paid for with rental car customer charges and airline passenger facility charges—no local tax dollars are being used.

Do you like working with people and learning about animals? Are you in high school? You should try working in Reid Park Zoo’s Zoo Crew! I’ve been in Zoo Crew for a little over six months, and I’m going to tell you about it.

I interviewed Walter Ram, a veteran of the U.S Army Air Corps in World War II and a recipient of the Purple Heart. Ram spent part of the war as a POW (prisoner of war) in the infamous Nazi prison camp, Stalag 17.

My trip to Australia was very fun! On my trip we visited the Sydney Opera House, went to the zoo, went on a cruise and so much more!

Believe it or not, this trip was made possible through Girl Scout Cookies! I sold over 5,000 boxes, which earned me a trip with our Council! This next cookie season, we could earn a trip to Japan!

 In 2019, the city of Tucson recorded a grand amount of 2500 tons of plastic reaching the local landfill daily and 720,000 tons of plastic reaching the landfill yearly. Plastic has become one of the most prominent and popular materials used in almost every industry from packaging to electronics—to the point where it is almost impossible to walk out of a local grocery store without buying at least one product containing plastic in or on it. Although plastic can be useful, it is very harmful.

 In 2019, an estimated 792 movies were produced in the U.S. and Canada before the coronavirus pandemic affected the film industry. Moviemaking is a complicated process that takes time and effort which is often overlooked when watching the actual movie, although the people behind the scenes are as crucial to the moviemaking process as the actors. While watching a movie can be super fun, making a movie can be a little bit stressful.