Tech Trek is AAUW California’s summer science program that encourages girls entering the 8th grade to pursue
careers in science and technology. The first Tech Trek camp was held the summer of 1998 at Stanford University. Since then the
program has expanded to include camps at Fresno, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Whittier, Irvine and Mills College. Each year the
California branches of American Association of University Women sends over 800 girls to its Tech Trek camps.
Scroll down or click here to watch video of a typical Tech Trek camp experience (must have AcitveX enabled in your browser).
The Tech Trek campers are selected from the 7th graders of Thurston Middle School and awarded scholarships by the nonprofit AAUW Laguna Beach Foundation to cover the cost of the one week camp. The Foundation obtains funding for Tech Trek through branch fundraising events and through sponsorship by local business and private individuals. This year we were able to send nine girls to camps at UCI and UCSD, which is the largest number to date.
AAUW-LB's 2010 Tech Trek Scholarship Recipients —Front row: Malia Helms, Lilly Tabrizi and Lauren Thunen;
Back row: Iman Berri, Hannah Neill, Molly McMillen, and Skye Hendricks';
Inset: Hailey McCullough and
Kaitlan Armstrong.
We owe the increase in the number of scholarships this year to grants from local non-profit organization and generous donations from our branch members. In particular, we thank the Rotary Club of Laguna Beach and the Lebanese Ladies Cultural Society, each of which sponsored two campers, the University of California Irvine Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, Beach Cities LeTip, and members Patricia Griggs (Laguna Beach), Barbara Hamkalo, Bana Hilal and Elaine Lawson. In addition to member donations, a portion of the proceeds from branch fundraisers paid for Tech Trek scholarships.
Thank you 2010-2011 sponsors!
The Tech Trek Camp Experience
Our branch's scholarship winners attend a week-long camp at one of the seven California campuses where they live the life of a college student. Hands-on activities in core classes, labs and field trips at Tech Trek camps help to make math and
science fun along with being educational. Evening programs in
fields such as astronomy, engineering, marine biology and
environmental studies enhance their learning experience. The
girls also have the opportunity to interact with women role models
who work in science, mathematics, computers and other exciting
technical professions. Watch this exciting video about one of the Tech Trek camps.
If you would like more information on Tech Trek or to donate much-needed funds (each Trekker's tuition costs approximately $800 and includes room and board, class fees and field trips for the week), please contact our Tech Trek Co-Chairs, Nancy Miller, at 4991529, Barbara Hamkalo at 494-4185, or Elaine Lawson at 494-9963.
Tech Trek
