Nuclear Science Week with DC chapter of U.S. WIN and Girl Scouts of Nation’s Capital

The DC chapter of U.S. WIN participated in Nuclear Science Week by holding an event for Girl Scouts to earn the “Get to Know Nuclear” patch on October 23, 2025, at the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Headquarters in Washington, DC.

“Get to Know Nuclear” patch from the American Nuclear Society (ANS). Girl Scouts received this patch during a badge ceremony at the end of the event.

Attending Girl Scouts rotated through five different activities designed to enhance their understanding of nuclear science. Sarah Heagy (X-energy), Sumi Mondal (MPR Associates), and Frankie Pimentel (NEI) worked together to coordinate this event for 25 local scouts and 10 additional DC chapter of U.S. WIN volunteers. The scouts modeled nuclear fusion using marshmallows, constructed a U-235 atom out of candy, demonstrated thermal and fast fission with ping pong balls, calculated radiation doses, and illustrated radioactive decay with Skittles.

The DC chapter of U.S. WIN team adapted activity guides and procedural frameworks developed by previous WIN chapters. These ready-to-use materials, complete with supply lists, educational talking points, and setup instructions expedited the planning process.

 

Candy Atoms station where Girl Scouts constructed a U-235 atom using Mike & Ikes to represent 23 protons, marshmallows for 13 neutrons, licorice for electron orbitals, and mini M&Ms for electrons.

 

Skittle Half-Lives station that demonstrated the process of radioactive decay and introduced graphing skills to younger scouts.

 

A highlight of the night was the culminating badge ceremony, where each Girl Scout was individually recognized for her participation and learning. One by one, each of the girls shared her favorite activity and something new she had learned about nuclear science. Parents looked on with pride, some even recording their daughters’ responses as they confidently discussed concepts like radioactive decay and nuclear fission. Each scout received a special goody bag containing their newly earned “Get to Know Nuclear” patch, a tangible reminder of their accomplishments.

This personalized ceremony provided valuable feedback to the organizers while ensuring the educational objectives were met beyond the fun activities. Volunteers could witness firsthand how the activities they led sparked curiosity and understanding in these young minds. What might have appeared as simply playing with candy and marshmallows had successfully translated into genuine learning about complex nuclear science concepts, demonstrating the effectiveness of hands-on, accessible teaching methods.

The DC chapter of U.S. WIN hopes to repeat this event annually and continue working with the local scout troops.