S.O.L.A.R.-X™ Innovation Project Lab for Girls
A future-focused summer project experience created specifically for girls entering grades 8–11. Three teams. One confidential innovation challenge. Fifteen weekdays to explore, research, plan, design, develop, integrate, test, improve, and defend a working solution.
One challenge. Many ways to contribute and lead.
S.O.L.A.R.-X™ Innovation Project Lab for Girls is a three-week, multidisciplinary summer project experience built around one confidential, future-focused innovation challenge. Girls move a proposal from possibility to a working solution while drawing on project management, creativity, research, responsible AI, teamwork, sustainable energy, and real-world problem-solving.
No previous experience in STEM, engineering, solar energy, project management, design, construction, or AI is required.
Different strengths. One shared goal.
Girls contribute in different ways as their team moves from proposal to completed project.
Project Management
Girls work with milestones, responsibilities, deadlines, resources, risks, adjustments, and accountability as the project moves toward completion.
Creativity & Design
Teams research possibilities, establish a visual direction, compare ideas, and make purposeful design decisions.
Sustainable Energy & Applied Technology
Sustainable energy becomes part of the final hands-on project through supervised, age-appropriate solar integration, testing, and performance.
Career & Field Experience
Girls meet professionals and take part in a guided Greater Atlanta field experience connecting design, sustainability, careers, and project execution.
Research & Responsible AI
Girls learn to research, use generative AI responsibly, verify information, compare options, and question assumptions.
Teamwork, Leadership & Communication
Girls listen, make decisions, manage disagreements, adapt, take responsibility, support one another, and explain the thinking behind the solution they deliver together.
Imagine what comes next—not simply what already exists.
The confidential S.O.L.A.R.-X™ challenge asks girls to think forward and bring together research, project management, design, sustainable energy, technology, creativity, and human needs in one future-focused solution.
The specific project, physical configuration, and challenge details are intentionally not published in advance. Discovery is part of the experience.
Receive the proposal, build team connections, learn research and project guidelines, meet professionals, and gain real-world perspective.
Research possibilities, compare ideas, establish a project direction, plan the work, and develop the team design.
Bring approved project components together, execute the design, integrate sustainable-energy technology, and respond to real project constraints.
Test the finished project, troubleshoot problems, make final corrections, document decisions, and prepare to defend the team’s solution.
Three teams. Three visions.
Every team begins with the same confidential project proposal, project requirements, and core resources. The differences come from the girls’ research, decisions, collaboration, creativity, and execution.
Each team works in its own visually separated project area. Girls come together for shared instruction, lunch, career and field experiences, while competing project work remains protected until the final showcase.
Every girl matters to the outcome.
Participation is not built around one or two students doing the important work. Each girl is expected to contribute, take responsibility, participate hands-on, and help represent her team’s work.
Journey Notebook
CHALLENGES • PROGRESS • FRIENDSHIPS
Her progress.
Her story.
Her project. Her story.
Every girl receives an individual notebook to document the experience from beginning to completion—not just the finished result.
- Ideas & research
- Sketches & decisions
- Progress & adjustments
- Leadership moments
- Team contributions
- Friendships & reflections
The notebook becomes a personal keepsake of the ideas, challenges, relationships, accomplishments, and lessons that shaped her S.O.L.A.R.-X™ experience.
Human Intelligence + Emotional Intelligence
The future will contain more technology. That makes distinctly human abilities even more important.
Human Intelligence
Students question, research, evaluate, imagine, create, problem-solve, make decisions, recognize tradeoffs, and explain the thinking behind their work.
Emotional Intelligence
Students practice listening, self-awareness, communication, conflict management, teamwork, adaptability, accountability, and leadership.
Real-world expertise behind the student experience.
Girls receive structured guidance in project management, responsible AI, design, teamwork, sustainable energy, and supervised electrical systems.
Sherry Pulcher
Sherry oversees the complete student experience, STEM instruction, team development, program operations, and overall project execution.
Christopher Pulcher-Coard
Christopher introduces professional project-management practices and guides students through planning, organization, risk management, problem-solving, and project execution.
Leon-Claude Hobson-Coard
Leon guides students in responsible generative AI use for research, questioning, evaluation, and problem-solving while emphasizing verification and independent thinking.
Licensed Electrician
A licensed electrician oversees electrical safety, supervised solar-system integration, testing, and technical review using approved low-voltage components.
Complete it. Test it. Defend it.
The final weekday is protected for commissioning, testing, corrections, documentation, and showcase setup before the Saturday competition.
Commissioning & Showcase Preparation
Teams complete final testing, troubleshoot problems, make minor corrections, document their work, prepare their presentation, and leave the completed projects in place for Saturday judging.
Judged Showcase & Awards Luncheon
Each team presents and demonstrates its completed S.O.L.A.R.-X™ project before professional judges, explains the thinking behind its decisions, and responds to questions.
Three weeks of guided project work + the Saturday finale.
Required project materials, sustainable-energy components, project tools, professional guidance, student resources, career and field experiences, and the Saturday finale are included.
Tuition covers the full three-week weekday program and Saturday Judged Showcase & Awards Luncheon. Payment-plan information will be released with enrollment details.
Program information.
Final venue information will be announced before enrollment opens.
Expected grade level in Fall 2027.
Three-week weekday program plus the Saturday finale.
Three project teams of seven students.
Frequently asked questions.
What does S.O.L.A.R.-X™ mean?
S.O.L.A.R.-X™ stands for Students Organizing, Leading, Applying & Reimagining. The name reflects a program where girls organize a substantial project, contribute within a team, apply what they learn, and reimagine what could be possible.
Why is this S.O.L.A.R.-X™ experience for girls?
This edition is a Girls Are Phenomenal™ program created specifically for girls. The experience gives girls meaningful opportunities to contribute, lead, collaborate, problem-solve, compete, build confidence, develop friendships, and accomplish substantial work together.
Is this only for girls interested in STEM or solar?
No. S.O.L.A.R.-X™ is a multidisciplinary project experience. Sustainable energy and applied technology are part of the hands-on challenge, alongside project management, creativity, design, responsible AI, research, career exploration, teamwork, leadership, communication, and problem-solving. No previous experience is required.
What will the girls actually create?
Each team receives a confidential, future-focused project proposal and core resources. Across three weeks, girls research, plan, design, develop, integrate, test, troubleshoot, refine, and complete a working team solution. The exact challenge, physical configuration, and supplied components are intentionally not published before the program.
Why isn’t the challenge revealed beforehand?
The project is intentionally protected so all three teams begin from the same starting point and have room to develop original ideas rather than arrive with a predetermined solution. Discovery, research, and team decision-making are part of the experience.
What real-world exposure is included?
Girls participate in career exploration with professionals whose work helps move complex projects from idea to completion, as well as a guided Greater Atlanta sustainable-building and energy field experience before they move deeper into project design.
How do the student teams work?
Each seven-girl team shares responsibility for progress, hands-on work, decisions, and the final presentation or demonstration. Responsibilities may shift as the project moves through different phases. Competing teams work in visually separated project areas so developing ideas remain protected until the final showcase.
Will girls use artificial intelligence and work with electrical systems?
Girls may use generative AI appropriately for research, questioning, comparison, evaluation, and idea development, while remaining responsible for verification and their own judgment. Solar and electrical activities use approved low-voltage components under professional supervision, with a licensed electrician overseeing safety, integration, testing, and technical review.
How does the program conclude, and can parents attend?
The final weekday is reserved for commissioning, testing, troubleshooting, corrections, documentation, and showcase preparation. Completed projects remain in place for Saturday’s Judged Showcase & Awards Luncheon. Tuition includes admission for one adult guest, and a limited number of additional guest tickets may be offered after enrollment is complete.
She will have more to say than, “I went to a summer program.”
She will be able to explain what her team researched, designed, built, tested, solved, improved, and delivered— and what she personally contributed along the way.
Imagine what’s next.
Build what’s possible.
Join the Greater Atlanta S.O.L.A.R.-X™ Innovation Project Lab for Girls Priority List to receive final program dates, venue information, enrollment information, payment-plan details, and early program announcements.
S.O.L.A.R.-X™ Innovation Project Lab for Girls Interest Form
Share your contact information to receive Greater Atlanta Summer 2027 program and enrollment updates.
Payment-plan information will be released with enrollment details.
Joining the Priority List does not constitute an application, reserve a participant seat, guarantee enrollment, or create a payment obligation.