At Tech Trek camp the girls are immersed in a world that empowers and encourages them to think about themselves as future scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and computer specialists.

The 2022 Tech Trek Camp was again a virtual one held from the June 18th 4pm orientation to June 24th.  With COVID’s future  so uncertain we felt we needed to return to the virtual format for camp for the safety of our campers and staff.  This summer’s virtual camp was very successful!  The campers learned a lot of new things in their classes, met new friends and acquired news skills.

Girls who were nominated by one of their math or science teachers completed applications and were interviewed virtually  by AAUW members who lived near them.  Following this process 60 girls who will enter 8th grade in the fall were invited to attend the camp.  The girls selected one core course of 10 or 12 hours and 4 1 1/2 hour workshops to attend during camp..  The core courses were: Computer Science Discoveries, Qualcomm Wearable Tech, Climate Change, Structural Engineering and Neuroscience.  The workshops were Social Media, Everglades and  Climate Change, DNA, My Place in Space, Digital Environment, Chemistry, Fitness, Flip Grid, Bullet Journal, and Rube Goldberg. They ranked their core and workshop choices from one 1 to four.

Every day there were panel discussions by professional women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.  The girls were invited to ask questions of these women after they explained where they worked and what they did. There were also virtual college tours conducted by a student at that institution.

Florida’s Tech Trek 2022 Program and Activities

Once the girls learned which core class and which workshops they would be attending they waited for the boxes of special course materials arrive.  They were also told which items commonly found in their homes tha they needed to have on hand. They were told that full use of computer with internet access that they could use was mandatory.  For those who did not have a computer the camp loaned them one for the week. They were also told they needed a dedicated space where they could work and have their computer right there. The supply boxes also contained, three camp t-shirts to wear during class, a flash drive for saving their files and bag to keep these materials together. They were all curious to see what sort of items would be in their box.

On Saturday afternoon they all attended an orientation where they met their core class teachers and their classmates.. They received instructions about signing on, a reminder of the class hours and taking a pre-test and submiting it before class started on Monday.  Each day there was a lunch break between the Core Class and the workshops

On Friday there were a variety of virtual field trips.  Campers were able to select three of these:  Nextgen Solar and Wind Power, Loggerhead Marine Life Center, Sikorsky Helicopter, Palm Beach County’s Control Burn plan and Grassy Waters  The last program at camp was a wrap up session about the camp activities for campers, teachers and family members.  Some campers talked about and displayed their projects while spoke  enthusiastically about their entire camp  experience. The wrap up  was a fascinating example of what can be achieved virtually. If you would like to see this presentation, go to https://flipgrid.com/5e3992b4.

Federal income tax-deductible contributions for the two 2023 camps may be mailed to Tech Trek, c/o AAUW Florida Supporting Foundation, Inc, PO Box 2938, Jupiter,FL 33468.  Checks must be made payable to the AAUW Florida Supporting Foundation, Inc. with Tech Trek noted on the memo line. 

Support Tech Trek By Shopping!

Go to https://smile.amazon.com to do do your amazon shopping and the amazon will donate a small percentage of your purchases excluding taxes, gift wrap, etc to the Florida AAUW Supporting Foundation, the sponsor of the Tech Trek camps.  For more information about how to do this go to the donate page on this website.  Every item you purchase through smile.amazon.com will help raise money for Tech Trek.

Camp History

AAUW has been a leader in the effort to interest more young girls in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).  The first summer Tech Trek camp was held on the campus of California’s Stanford University in 1998. Now there are ten California camps and ten additional camps scattered around the United States. Thanks to very generous sponsors and supportive donors, families pay only a $50 fee to send a girl to camp so that girls from a wide range of backgrounds are able to attend.