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I just returned home from a week at Stanford University. I was a “dorm mom” at an American Association of University Women (AAUW) Tech Trek summer camp.
AAUW “has been the nation's leading voice advancing equity for woman and girls through advocacy, education, and research.”
This has been the AAUW mission since 1881. Tech Trek is a science/math camp where girls entering the 8th grade are given an opportunity to learn in a relaxed and fun environment. It also gives them a taste of college and dorm life, making new friends and doing new things.
Research has shown girls tend to lose interest in science and math as options in high school and college, which in turn limits their choices for career opportunities. Started in 1998 by California AAUW member Marie Wolback, Tech Trek is designed to stimulate interest in science, math and engineering. Opened initially on the Stanford campus, there are now camps on six college campuses throughout California: Whittier College in Los Angeles, U.C. Santa Barbara, U.C. San Diego, Fresno State University, Sonoma State University, as well as two camps at Stanford University. More than 600 California girls attend Tech Trek camps each year.
Recently, 84 girls spent six nights in a Stanford University dorm. Each girl chose a “core class” prior to the opening of camp, and then attended a variety of afternoon and evening classes. The core classes, which were held daily, included: Food Chemistry, CSI-Forensics, Marine Biology and Brain Age.
A sampling of what is covered in a core class: analyzing the fat content in everyday foods, fingerprinting and handwriting analysis, dissecting a squid and daily math challenges. Some of the afternoon and evening classes were: Marine Science Institute boat trip on the San Francisco Bay, Bats, Finance, Robotics, Binary Bracelets, Astronomy and Lunch with Owls.
Those who attend Tech Trek are first selected by their 7th grade science and math teachers as girls who show potential and those who would benefit from camp. In our area the girls are students at Alder Creek Middle School or North Tahoe Middle School. They submit an application to and undergo an interview by a committee of local AAUW members.
Most of the cost for the camp is shouldered by the AAUW branch that sends each girl. Cost for the camps varies with location, but ranges from $750 to $850 per girl. The North Tahoe AAUW, of which I am a member, aims each year to send six girls to camp.
Do I hear you thinking “what can I do to help?”
First, if you are a college graduate, please consider joining our local North Tahoe AAUW branch. As a member you could help with fundraising or become actively involved in the Tech Trek program. We also welcome monetary donations earmarked for Tech Trek. If you have any questions please contact Kathy Uskert at (530) 546-5481. To make a tax-deductible donation, make checks payable to AAUW-CA SPF, put Teck Trek on the memo line, and mail to: Kathy Uskert/ P.O. Box 403, Tahoe Vista, Ca, 96148.
AAUW “has been the nation's leading voice advancing equity for woman and girls through advocacy, education, and research.”
This has been the AAUW mission since 1881. Tech Trek is a science/math camp where girls entering the 8th grade are given an opportunity to learn in a relaxed and fun environment. It also gives them a taste of college and dorm life, making new friends and doing new things.
Research has shown girls tend to lose interest in science and math as options in high school and college, which in turn limits their choices for career opportunities. Started in 1998 by California AAUW member Marie Wolback, Tech Trek is designed to stimulate interest in science, math and engineering. Opened initially on the Stanford campus, there are now camps on six college campuses throughout California: Whittier College in Los Angeles, U.C. Santa Barbara, U.C. San Diego, Fresno State University, Sonoma State University, as well as two camps at Stanford University. More than 600 California girls attend Tech Trek camps each year.
Recently, 84 girls spent six nights in a Stanford University dorm. Each girl chose a “core class” prior to the opening of camp, and then attended a variety of afternoon and evening classes. The core classes, which were held daily, included: Food Chemistry, CSI-Forensics, Marine Biology and Brain Age.
A sampling of what is covered in a core class: analyzing the fat content in everyday foods, fingerprinting and handwriting analysis, dissecting a squid and daily math challenges. Some of the afternoon and evening classes were: Marine Science Institute boat trip on the San Francisco Bay, Bats, Finance, Robotics, Binary Bracelets, Astronomy and Lunch with Owls.
Those who attend Tech Trek are first selected by their 7th grade science and math teachers as girls who show potential and those who would benefit from camp. In our area the girls are students at Alder Creek Middle School or North Tahoe Middle School. They submit an application to and undergo an interview by a committee of local AAUW members.
Most of the cost for the camp is shouldered by the AAUW branch that sends each girl. Cost for the camps varies with location, but ranges from $750 to $850 per girl. The North Tahoe AAUW, of which I am a member, aims each year to send six girls to camp.
Do I hear you thinking “what can I do to help?”
First, if you are a college graduate, please consider joining our local North Tahoe AAUW branch. As a member you could help with fundraising or become actively involved in the Tech Trek program. We also welcome monetary donations earmarked for Tech Trek. If you have any questions please contact Kathy Uskert at (530) 546-5481. To make a tax-deductible donation, make checks payable to AAUW-CA SPF, put Teck Trek on the memo line, and mail to: Kathy Uskert/ P.O. Box 403, Tahoe Vista, Ca, 96148.
