Safety Is for Everyone: TREEO’s Day with Girls Place
Girls Place runs a 9-week summer experience designed to empower girls through hands-on STEM exploration while deliberately fighting summer learning loss. Their 2026 theme, “Her STEM Story,” gives girls space to see themselves as thinkers, problem-solvers, and future leaders in science, technology, engineering, and math.
When Christi Arrington, Executive Director at Girls Place, was presented with the opportunity to partner with TREEO and bring a group of girls to our facility, both organizations immediately saw the value of working together, making the answer a simple yes. As Christi shared, “This is awesome. This opportunity will help the girls learn about professional trades, and the emphasis on safety creates a powerful real-world learning experience.”
Four Stations, One Big Idea
The girls spent the day exploring four different STEM experiences. They rotated through three hands-on breakout sessions focused on water, safety, and engineering before coming together for a fourth session on photography, video, audio, and marketing technology. Each station showed a different side of STEM, helping the girls connect classroom concepts to the real-world careers that keep our communities running, informed, and safe.
Minecraft in Real Life: Build It for Real
Led by Robb Wolf, Cross Connection Control Program Manager, this session introduced the girls to the world of backflow prevention and the professionals who help protect Florida’s drinking water supply. They learned why backflow preventers are so important and how these devices keep contaminated water from flowing back into clean water systems.
Then it was time to put STEM into action. Using pipes, fittings, and a little engineering know-how, the girls built their own Father’s Day tool holders. Along the way, they explored how different pipe shapes and connections fit together and used math and problem-solving skills to bring their projects to life. It was a hands-on reminder that engineering isn’t just something you see in textbooks, it’s something you can build with your own two hands.
Become a Water Wizard!
Ron Trygar, Water/Wastewater Program Manager, took the girls on a journey through the hidden world of water and wastewater systems. Through engaging demonstrations and videos, they followed the path water takes after it disappears down the drain and learned how treatment plants help protect public health and the environment.
One of the biggest lessons of the day? Remember the three Ps: pee, poo, and paper. Ron explained why those are the only things that should be flushed and showed what can happen when wipes, grease, and other items make their way into the system. The girls also discovered how reclaimed water can be safely reused in places like lakes, ponds, and irrigation systems throughout the Gainesville area. By the end of the session, everyday activities like flushing a toilet suddenly seemed a lot more fascinating.
Mission Possible: Safety & Rescue Challenge
Cindy Mercado‘s station gave the girls a firsthand look at the critical role safety plays in protecting workers. Before any rescue could begin, they learned about confined spaces and the important questions workers must ask before entering one. What hazards might be present? Is there enough oxygen? What protective equipment is required?
After gearing up and learning about personal protective equipment (PPE), the girls put their knowledge into action. Their mission: rescue “Bernie” from a confined space using professional rescue equipment. Working together, they operated a retrieval system that used a harness, rope, and crank mechanism to safely lift Bernie to safety. Along the way, they learned how planning, communication, and proper safety procedures can make the difference between a successful rescue and a dangerous situation. It was an exciting challenge that showed safety isn’t about rules, it’s about making sure everyone goes home safely at the end of the day.
Lights, Camera, Action! A Quick Introduction to Audio, Visual, and Capturing Your Moment
Led by Kylie Register, Marketing & Communications Specialist, this session introduced the girls to the creative side of technology through photography, video, and audio production. Kylie shared how marketing and communications professionals use these tools every day to tell stories, share information, and create promotional materials, just like the videos, photos, social media posts, and marketing campaigns produced here at TREEO.
Through a fun and interactive presentation, the girls learned how audio, images, and video work together to capture attention and communicate a message. They explored the role creativity plays in technology and discovered that STEM careers aren’t limited to science labs and engineering projects. From creating content for organizations to documenting important moments and sharing stories that inspire action, they saw how technology and creativity come together to make an impact.
Why TREEO Shows Up for This
TREEO trains Florida’s workforce: the environmental professionals, safety supervisors, and tradespeople who keep communities safe. But the workforce of the future is still in 4th grade.
Hosting Girls Place wasn’t a detour from our mission. It is our mission extended forward into the next generation.
“It was a joy to share what we do with the girls from Girls Place. Experiences like this help young people see that there are so many exciting careers that keep our communities safe and running, many of which they may never have encountered otherwise. If we sparked even a little curiosity about those possibilities, then it was a day well spent.”
— Lauren McCain, Interim Director, UF Office of Professional and Workforce Development
The girl who spent 45 minutes learning confined spaces and helped rescue Bernie? She might study safety and occupational health. She might become an environmental engineer. She might walk back through TREEO’s doors in ten years as a working professional. We’d be glad to see her.