Tech Trek entices girls to learn about science at summer camp

By Bonnie D. Stone, special to the Antelope Valley Press

15 girls will go to Tech Trek, a science summer camp

The Antelope Valley Branch of the American Association of University Women recognized fifteen girls going to this year’s Tech Trek summer program, their parents as well as the generous donors who have made the program possible on Saturday, April 12, 10:30 a.m., in the Antelope Valley College Board Room (SSV151). The program is open to the public. For information call 947-2947 or 942-7533.
Members of the Society of Women Engineers will speak about their lives as science professionals working for Lockheed Martin. Two of the former Tech Trekkers will briefly share their experiences.
Rachel Thomson, 14, 8th grader at Cole Middle school, went to tech last summer to Whittier College.
“It definitely gave me a new view on what I was going to do with my life,” Rachael said. “It helped me decide what I wanted. I took the bodyworks class as my core class. It assured me how much fun I would have, how science and math would help me. At the moment I’d love to be an orthopedic surgeon.”
For Darcy Dewar, 18-year-old senior at Boron High School, the week she spent at Tech Trek at Whittier College in 2003 confirmed she was on the right track for college.
“For me, that week gave me a taste for college,” Darcy said. “I’ve always been strong in science and math, yet, when we examined a cadaver for example, I found I could handle things better than my peers.” Darcy is aiming for California State University at Northridge with a major in civil engineering.
The meeting will introduce the 15 Trekkers, representing nine different schools, who will be going to camp this summer.
AAUW will also acknowledge their principal aerospace donors: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, JT3 and Spiral Technology. The association also has branch fundraisers throughout the year.
“We have sent 80 campers to Tech Trek since the AAUW-CA program began in 1998,” said Connie Harney, chair for Tech Trek. “The way to apply is for 7th grade public school math or science teachers to nominate girls who show a special interest in math or science by sending or e-mailing their name, address and phone number to me in January of each year - up to four nominees per school.” Email address for nominations is: copa.harney@verizon.net with Tech Trek in the subject line.
Tech Trek is a week-long residential math/science camp for girls entering the eighth grade. Programs are offered at six sites:
California State University, Fresno
Mills College, Oakland
Stanford University, Stanford
University of California, San Diego
Whittier College, Whittier
University of California, Santa Barbara
All sleeping, eating, instructional and recreational facilities are located on the university campus. Each camp features hands-on activities in math and science plus related field trips. The camps also offer many other activities, such as swimming and math/logic related games.
“Science, math, and technology are major fields where women are presently underrepresented but fields where they can and do succeed,” said Harney. “The goal of Tech Trek is to provide a fun yet educational experience that will expand the minds of the middle-school age girls who attend, allow campers to experience hands-on experiments and field trips related to math and science, live on a college campus, get acquainted with other girls who think science is fun, and meet female role models in math, science, technology and other non-traditional careers.”
All six Tech Trek camps increased their attendance to serve over 600 girls in 2007, bringing the total since the first camp in 1998 to well over 3,000 participants. The first groups of Tech Trekkers are now in college. AAUW-CA has kept in touch with these girls and work is underway to find out how this program has influenced them and the choices they will make in their future lives.
Campers are assigned either a math or science core class taught by a credentialed middle school math or science teacher that they attend daily while at camp. To broaden the camp experience, campers select from “core classes" covering a variety of math/science/technology related fields. Evening programs in fields such as astronomy, engineering and environmental studies enhance the learning experience and introduce students to a variety of potential career areas.
While all camps follow the same overall outline of a single math or science core class throughout the week for each camper, each camp also presents a unique experience for campers. For example, core classes at the Whittier Camp have included Biz World, Mystery Powder/CSI, Body Works, Mars City, Robotics, and Brain Function.
Each camp attendee must be recommended by a teacher. Final selection of campers is done by the local AAUW branch. Young women of all ethnic, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds are welcome to apply. Girls completing the 7th grade in the spring of each year are targeted for this event.
“We know that girls experience a drop in self-esteem during the middle school years, and even talented girls may stop taking important math and science classes,” Connie noted. “One of AAUW's goals is to break this cycle and help girls realize their full potential.” For further information, see www.aauw-ca.org/program/techtrek.htm .