Girl Power Science News

Big news—from my hormones 💫

After years of research, learning, and listening to my body, I officially started full-dose hormone replacement therapy yesterday.

I’m using an estradiol patch that looks like a small, round, clear sticker. On day 14 of my cycle, I’ll begin taking progesterone pills. Yesterday, I experienced some side effects—nausea and a headache. At first, I thought the nausea was just a reaction to reading the news, but it quickly became clear it was more pronounced than that.

The good news: I feel much better today. I’m journaling in detail about the experience because, as always, body literacy matters—especially during big transitions. I’ll continue sharing what I learn along the way.

And now, onto two important announcements 👇

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🌞 Summer Camp Registration Opens Tomorrow!

Summer Camp registration opens tomorrow (Saturday) at 8:00 AM.

My daughter and I are offering three weeks of Girl Power Science summer camp, with core hours from 9:00 AM–3:00 PM and optional extended day until 4:00 or 5:00 PM.

As always, our group size is small (maximum of 12 kids per week) so space is limited. We are so honored that we have folks planning to travel from Oregon and stay in San Francisco to join our camp this year!

Here’s a look at each week’s themes and projects:

✨ Week 1: "Glow Up!" July 13 - 17

• Team Building Challenges (Leadership Styles)
• Cycle Friendly Snack Lab (Flow 2.0 - Cyclical Superpowers)
• Screens vs. Science (Social Media - Fake vs. Real)
• Know Drugs (Brain Science of Drugs and Alcohol)
• The 3 S’s Spa Day (Skincare, Sleep & Stress Science)

🧬 Week 2: "You Grow Girl!" July 20 - 24

• Color changing chemistry experiment (Growth Mindset)
• Candy-scented DIY deodorant (Puberty Superpowers)
• Egg drop engineering (Period Power)
• Strawberry DNA Extraction (Genetics & Body Image)
• Skincare science (Self Care & Self Love)

💫 Week 3: "STEMinista" August 10 - 14

• Bouncing bubbles experiment (Boundaries & Consent)
• Fizzy bath bomb project (Healthy Friendships & Anti-bullying)
• Chia pudding making (Intuitive Eating and Nutrition)
• Sparkly glitter globe project (Healthy Screen Time Habits)
• Fluffy cloud slime making (Identity and Self Confidence)

Spots are limited, and camps typically fill quickly—especially our most popular weeks. Bookmark this page of our website: LINK. The "Register Now" button will appear on that page at 8:00 am tomorrow.

If you have any questions, just reply to this email.

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🌗 Let’s Talk About Menopause

I’m co-leading an exciting private menopause education event at Lick-Wilmerding High School, and the response has been incredible.

So far:

• 100+ parents registered
• 25 thoughtful questions submitted
• Our favorite question (so far!) came from a dad:
  ​“How can I be supportive?”

Yes. That’s the energy we love.

Let’s Talk About Menopause​
​Tuesday, Jan 27 | 7:00–8:30 PM​
​This event is for LWHS community members.

It’s a transition every woman faces, yet it’s often discussed in whispers. Navigating this hormonal shift doesn’t have to be a solo journey. Whether you’re in the thick of it, see it on the horizon, or want to better support the women in your life, this expert-led conversation will offer clarity, community, and actionable insights.

Panelists include:

Dr. Kimberly Garfinkel, MD, MPH, DABOM​
Board-certified OB-GYN and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner with over 20 years of clinical experience. Dr. Garfinkel specializes in evidence-based hormonal and non-hormonal care, helping women cut through misinformation and make informed, values-aligned decisions.

Konika Ray Wong, M.Ed​
Author, body literacy specialist, and co-founder of Girl Power Science. After decades reframing puberty as a time of power, I recognized the same patterns in perimenopause—big internal shifts that deserve science, support, and celebration. This work inspired my upcoming Perimenopause Power workshops.

Tenah (T) Dyer​
Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and social activist. T is a co-founder of Future Allies and Upelle, creating inclusive spaces where women can share stories and learn about menopause and midlife health.

Carrie Kostiner​
Co-founder of Future Allies and Upelle, dedicated to building community-driven spaces that support women through life’s transitions.

After this event, I’ll officially be launching Girl Power Science: Perimenopause Power workshops—open to everyone. Stay tuned.

👉 The best way to get updates is to follow me on Instagram @girlpowerscience.

As always, thank you for being part of this community. If this newsletter resonated, please consider forwarding it to a friend or parent who might appreciate it—especially someone navigating big body changes of their own.

With Gratitude,
​Konika

Girl Power Science Founder