Blackwell at Santa Barbara - AAUW California

Tech Trek started on the UC Santa Barbara campus in 2005. After a hiatus in 2024, Blackwell returns in 2025. The camp serves students from northern Los Angeles and coastal areas.

Our name honors Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, born in 1821, who was the first woman to earn a medical degree in the US. She was a pioneer in promoting education for women in the field of medicine.

Her contributions remain celebrated with the Elizabeth Blackwell Medal, awarded annually to a woman who has made a significant contribution to the promotion of women in medicine.

Camp Blackwell offers five core classes, including marine science, robotics, and engineering, hands-on workshops including financial literacy, advisory discussions with professional women, and much more in an incredibly beautiful setting.

We, and all the volunteers who staff our camp, believe the world needs more scientists who ask ‘Why?’, and engineers/technologists who ask ‘How?’ in our country. We hope that Tech Trek will inspire the campers to dig deeper into exploring STEM.

2026 Camp Dates

July 21-27

Contact

techtrek-blackwell@aauw-ca.org

Camp Director

Alice Matthews

Alice Matthews joined AAUW in 2016 after retiring from marketing and sales for two large pharmaceutical product groups in their Vaccine division, with a BS degree from Auburn University – Pre Med – Medical Technology. Her Tech Trek experiences include branch coordinator, TTAG advisor, and dorm monitor at all three southern California camps, co-Director at UCSD in 2024, and now Director of SB Blackwell Camp.

Assistant Director

Peggy LeDuff

Peggy LeDuff, the co-Director-in-training at Blackwell, taught 7th and 8th grade science until retirement. As a mom of three, she was also a Girl Scout Leader for 14 years.

Her Tech Trek experience includes dorm monitor and workshop presenter, most recently, at the same southern California camps as her camp partner. Tech Trek Camp is an amazing week of introducing all branches of science to our campers.