AAUW Tech Trek
Tech Trek is a math/science camp designed to develop interest, excitement and self-confidence in young women who will enter eighth grade in the fall. It features hands-on activities in math, science and related fields. All sleeping, eating, instructional and recreational facilities are located on a university campus where camps are held.
Tech Trek Reunion
All former Tech Trekkers are invited to this special event! Come share your current achievements with your former camp-mates, hear special, influential speakers, and show your support to the organization that has given to many communities. The complimentary reunion will be held May 2nd in San Ramon, CA. More information will be posted shortly. Mark your calanders for this terrific opportunity!
Click here to register for Tech Trek Reunion 2010
Impact Study
In early 2007, participants from the first four years of the AAUW California Tech Trek Science Camp for Girls (1998-2001) were surveyed about the impact of their camp experience on their attitudes and subsequent academic and personal choices. Respondents were largely enthusiastic about their time at Tech Trek, many saying that it had been the most influential personal or academic experience of their middle school years. Click here to view the full results of the study.
What is Tech Trek?
Campers are assigned either a math or a science core class that they attend daily. Off-campus field trips to encourage maximum interaction and instruction are also planned.
Most important of all is the university campus experience. No matter what campus they attend, campers will have the opportunity to live the life of a college student for the week. They will learn to live with someone other than a sibling or a relative, share community bathrooms, eat dorm food and explore the campus area under the careful supervision of camp staff. They also will interact with women who model a high degree of science, mathematics or computer expertise as part of their daily lives.
Tech Trek is designed to provide every camper with exposure to all core subjects taught, as well as a selection of rotating labs designed to explore individual specialties more deeply. Hands-on activities in core classes, rotating labs and field trips at Tech Trek camps help to make math and science fun as well as educational.
Instructors include credentialed middle school teachers and women currently engaged professionally in math, science or technology fields. Evening programs in fields such as astronomy, engineering, marine biology, and environmental studies are planned to enhance the learning experience and introduce students to a variety of potential career areas.
Camp Directors have no problem identifying interested and competent teachers, as the word spreads every year from those who do participate, with most wanting to return again and again. Several teachers have returned every year since Tech Trek began. Teachers in Tech Trek camps spend long hours gathering materials and preparing, all of which helps make the week an awesome and exhilarating experience.
AAUW member volunteers serve as counselors (surrogate mothers), nurses, classroom aides, and fill in as needed. They provide the opportunity to bring like-minded middle school girls together for a week of involvement in math and science enrichment activities, which are fun while educational. Junior Counselors, former Tech Trek campers who return as helpers when they are in high school, are now an indispensable part of program. Recent college grads serve as Senior Counselors.
Would you like more information?
Contact Carol Holzgrafe and Nancy Andren, Tech Trek Co-Coordinators at techtrek@aauw-ca.org.