Embry-Riddle & USA Girl Scouts Overseas Celebrate Month of the Military Child with a Virtual Presentation and In- Person Workshops presenting on ‘Asteroids and Planetary Defense’

Worldwide Campus — On Saturday, April 12, 2025, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) and USA Girl Scouts Overseas (USAGSO) will partner once again to celebrate the Month of the Military Child with an exciting, free virtual event: Asteroids and Planetary Defense: NASA’s Mission to Protect Earth. This event will bring together families and members of our military communities worldwide to explore the fascinating science behind asteroid detection and deflection.

This annual collaboration between ERAU and USAGSO highlights the resilience and sacrifices of military children while providing them with unique educational experiences. The program aims to inspire young minds by introducing them to the cutting-edge science of planetary defense, NASA’s efforts to track near-Earth objects, and real-world asteroid redirection techniques.

The event will feature an engaging presentation by Dr. Amaya Davis, a US Navy Veteran, aerospace engineer, and NASA Solar System Ambassador. Dr. Davis will delve into NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, the first real-world asteroid deflection test, and discuss how scientists prepare to protect Earth from potential asteroid impacts.

Insightful discussions on asteroid origins, tracking methods, and planetary defense strategies. Interactive, hands-on STEM activities designed for K-12 students. A special look at the next asteroid predicted to pass close by Earth.

The no-cost live session will take place at 4:00am EDT / 10:00am CEST / 5:00pm JST and will be recorded on Zoom for those unable to attend in real-time. Participants will receive a supply list in advance and connection details prior to the event.

In addition to the virtual program, ERAU is offering exclusive in-person watch parties and STEM activities, cool experiments, and refreshments at multiple global campus locations, including:

• Atsugi, Japan

• Aviano, Italy

• Kadena/Futenma, Japan

• Lakenheath/Mildenhall, United Kingdom

• Osan, South Korea

• Ramstein, Germany

• Spangdahlem, Germany

• Vicenza, Italy

• Wiesbaden, Germany

Thanks to the generous support of Apex Clean Energy, USAGSO is offering one free commemorative patch per Girl Scout who registers for a Month of the Military Child program. Additional patches will be available for purchase.

ERAU and USAGSO are proud to offer this program at no cost to participants, furthering their commitment to making STEM education accessible and inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators.

Register today at https://bit.ly/4kzYXV4 and join us in celebrating our military children while exploring the wonders of space!

For those unable to attend live, the event recording will be available for playback within one week.

European Military Campus Operations

ERAU has had the privilege of serving overseas U.S. military students via our current Tri-Services Contract since the opening of our first European military location in 1973. Campus locations are scattered across Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, & the United Kingdom. Locations include Aviano AB, NATO AB Geilenkirchen, USAG Bavaria (Grafenwoehr/Vilseck/Hohenfels), USAG Ansbach (Katterbach/Illesheim), Incirlik AB, RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, Ramstein AB, NAVSTA Rota, NAS Sigonella, Spangdahlem AB, Vicenza (Caserma Ederle), and USAG Wiesbaden, while providing support for students located in the Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC – Sembach Kaserne, USAG Baumholder, Kleber Kaserne, & USAG Rheinland-Pfalz Landstuhl), USAG Stuttgart, Naples, RAF Croughton, RAF Molesworth, Moron AB, Poland (Poznan/Powidz), & Romania (Mihail Kogalniceanu AB). The team celebrated 50 years in Europe in 2023!

Pacific Command Campus Operations

ERAU began offering aviation undergraduate and graduate certificates and degree programs, EagleVision Classroom (EVC) courses, and on-site advising/support services, to members of the U.S. military stationed at overseas Pacific locations in U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) and U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) in 2015 under a Department of Defense Education contract (recently replaced with an Education Services Agreement (ESA). ERAU PACOM’s flagship campus locations, Kadena AFB in Okinawa and Camp Humphreys in South Korea, opened their doors in August of 2015. Since then, ERAU PACOM has expanded to include eleven campus locations throughout Japan and South Korea (Camp Humphreys, Kadena AFB, Kunsan AB, MCAS Futenma, MCAS Iwakuni, Misawa AFB, NAF Atsugi, Osan AFB, Yokosuka NB, Yokota AFB, and Guam). We also support students located in Camp Foster, Camp Schwab, Torii Station, Camp Fuji, and Camp Zama. The ESA (Education Services Agreement) is effective until 2032. The team celebrates 10 years in PACOM this year!

USA Girl Scouts Overseas

USA Girl Scouts Overseas (USAGSO) began in 1925 with a single troop of 18 girls in Shanghai, China. USAGSO exists to bring Girl Scouts to the daughters of military, foreign service, and American expat families around the world and to girls in American or International schools. An operating unit of Girl Scouts of the USA, USAGSO ensures that no matter where American families move, they will have access to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

USAGSO provides opportunities for girls to connect, learn, and take action in an environment tailored to their unique experiences living overseas. Through engaging programs and initiatives, USAGSO empowers girls to develop essential skills and leadership qualities, fostering confidence and resilience.

Today, USAGSO supports nearly 10,000 members in 80+ countries around the world. USAGSO staff supports members from three locations: New York City; Vicenza, Italy and Tokyo, Japan.

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