The Humboldt Chapter of the American Association of University Women gave several local girls the opportunity to attend TechTrek, a week-long science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) camp.
Sabrina McDonald, Clara Morris and Brianna Pacheco Gonzalez from Pacific Union School in Arcata and Kate Vasquez from Zane Middle School in Eureka were sponsored to attend this year’s camp.
The girls, who will enter eighth grade this fall, were nominated by their science teachers based on their abilities and interests. They then completed applications and interviews before being selected through a competitive process.
TechTrek is a national program created by AAUW to increase the interest, excitement and confidence of women in STEM fields. The camp exposes them to different fields and careers through hands-on experience through classes, workshops and demonstrations. Campers will hear from female STEM professionals and receive guidance to help them prepare for their future careers.
Kate Vasquez said the camp “raised my confidence and broadened my experience in STEM.”
“I participated in many activities that were not accessible in the classroom. I loved projects like selling flashlights,” she says.
Clara Morris was eager to learn sales skills (she made small robots that she planned to take around), as well as field trips to wildlife biology, water management, and geology.
“My favorite class (was going to the core class) which was chemistry,” Briana Pacheco Gonzalez said. On the first day, we split water with electricity. Tech Trek will forever be a part of me because it brought so much joy and wonder that I will remember forever.
Sabrina McDonald was enthusiastic about the many different workshops she attended; This includes computer coding, engineering and construction projects, and chemistry experiments. She said she enjoyed learning “how to work and communicate with others and to take what I learned and apply it to real-world events.”
Before heading to the camp, the girls were hosted by AAUW-Humboldt Tech Trek co-chairs Dorothy Skjonsby and Mary Lou Lowry for an orientation session, and will then give presentations about their experiences at the group’s meetings this year.
The AAUW Tech Trek program began in California in 1998. Gail Freeman organized the program for Humboldt County in 2001. The Susan Freeman Tech Trek program is now named in honor and memory of a leading STEM educator in the county.
This year, 94 AAUW chapters sent more than 450 campers to college campuses and another 175-plus campers attended.
AAUW-Humboldt supports AAUW’s mission to advance gender equity through research, education, and advocacy. In addition to sponsoring local girls attending TechTrek, the branch offers scholarships to women re-entering Cal Poly Humboldt as upper-division or graduate students, awards Chromebooks to incoming high school graduates, and supports other community outreach programs. It also hosts monthly meetings to promote community involvement. Go to https://humboldt-ca.aauw.net/ and https://www.aauw-ca.org/tech-trek/ for more information.
