A record 620 girls attended Tech Trek 2007! AAUW branches in California continue to support greater numbers of eighth grade girls at Tech Trek Science Camp for Girls. All sites were again filled in 2007. The record 620 students had the experience of living on a college campus and spending a week doing hands-on science and math.

As preparations begin for 2008, leaders are considering another site, or a second week at a campus now used by Tech Trek. The limiting factor in expansion may be camp directors. Two AAUW members who have served as camp directors for nine years are retiring. Karen Manelis (CSU Fresno) and Jo Moss (UC San Diego) are leaving with plaudits for providing the Tech Trek experience to nearly 1800 girls at their two sites. Kim Watkins, who has directed the camp at Mills College for two years and increased its enrollment from 75 to 90, is also retiring. Returning directors are Carol Holzgrafe (Stanford U.), Colleen Briner-Schmidt and Susan Pease (UC Santa Barbara), and Nilsa Arias (Whittier College).

Technology instruction and experience will increase at Tech Trek 2008 because of a grant received from the Morgan Family Foundation. Laptop computers have been purchased to use at campuses that do not have computer labs open during the summer and to decrease fees for renting computer labs at other sites.

Hands-on activities in core classes, rotating labs and field trips at Tech Trek camps help to make math and science fun along with being educational. Camp Directors have no problem identifying interested and competent teachers, as the word spreads every year from those who do participate, with most wanting to return again and again. Several teachers have returned every year since Tech Trek began. Teachers in Tech Trek camps spend long hours gathering materials and preparing, all of which helps make the week an awesome and exhilarating experience.

AAUW member volunteers serve as counselors (surrogate mothers), nurses, classroom aides, and fill in as needed. They provide the opportunity to bring like-minded middle school girls together for a week of involvement in math and science enrichment activities, which are fun while educational. Junior Counselors, former Tech Trek campers who return as helpers when they are in high school, are now an indispensable part of program. Recent college grads serve as Senior Counselors.

Please consider contributing your time to Tech Trek 2008. Help is needed, and involvement in the program is very gratifying. Volunteers may work a few hours helping with various tasks before camps open or distributing registration packets. At the other end of the scale, members may live on the campus for a week while serving as a dorm mom or health aide for the students.