What is the Tech Trek project?

Tech Trek is a project of AAUW. www.aauw-techtrek.orgIt is a one-week, scholarship-only, residential summer STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) camp for girls who will in the eighth grade in the fall.

AAUW branches raise funds to send girls in their communities to a Tech Trek camp at various universities.

The main goal of Tech Trek is to offer an educational, confidence building experience for girls. Tech Trek offers an array of exciting and fun hands-on experiments and field trips related to science and math. Female role models who work in STEM fields teach and guide the campers, who are surrounded by adults and girls who believe science and math are fascinating. The purpose is to inspire girls to  attend college, major in STEM fields, and pursue STEM careers.

Is Tech Trek Effective?

See www.aauw-techtrek.org for information and to access the report “Igniting the Spark: TECH STEM Camps for Girls – Summary of Survey Findings”.  The 2013 survey showed that Tech Trek very significantly increased girls’ interest in STEM and also increased their self-confidence.

The survey report summary states: “Tech Trek opens up STEM possibilities for girls in many contexts. It expands and influences their academic and social lives, starting in middle school and continuing on into their careers. The program seeks out talented girls, sparks their interest, illuminates the value of a college education, and validates their passions. Tech Trek’s exciting, hands-on approach offers a wide variety of experiences that translate into options well beyond the week of camp.”

How does the Antelope Valley participate in Tech Trek?

As of 2022, the Antelope Valley Branch has sent over 436 local girls to Tech Trek camps since the beginning of the Tech Trek program in 1998.

The Antelope Valley Tech Trekkers are from Northern Los Angeles County (Lancaster, Palmdale, Quartz Hill, Littlerock, Lake Hughes) and Eastern Kern County (Edwards, Boron and Rosamond).

How are Tech Trekkers selected?

Seventh grade science or math teachers nominate students to attend Tech Trek. The branch makes the final selection of campers after the nominees submit an application, write an essay, and undergo an interview.

How is Tech Trek funded? Can I be a Tech Trek Donor?

The cost of the camps varies. The one-week camps on a college or university campus cost about $1,000. However, Virtual Camps cost about half that amount.

Individual donors, fraternal organizations, and local corporations provide the funds.

To make a tax-deductible contribution to send an Antelope Valley girl to a Tech Trek camp, please contact us by clicking here.

What Happens After Tech Trek?

We are very interested in the academic progress of the girls we send to Tech Trek. We continue exposing them to STEM activities and opportunities by scheduling various workshops and events. We ask them to update us periodically on their studies and extracurricular activities.

We offer scholarships to graduating Tech Trekkers who have been accepted to a college or university to major in a STEM field. For more information about the Tech Trek Grad Scholarship, click here.