Camp Carson launched in 2024 at UC Santa Cruz and welcomes campers from the Bay Area and the central and northern coastal regions of California. In 2025, the camp will be hosted at Merrill College on the UCSC campus.
Named in honor of Rachel Carson—a trailblazing marine biologist, author, and environmental advocate—our camp proudly celebrates her legacy. Carson’s groundbreaking work helped spark the modern environmental movement and ultimately led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. Her 1962 book Silent Spring exposed the harmful effects of chemical pesticides and played a pivotal role in the U.S. ban on DDT.
Each morning, campers engage in one of four core classes, diving deeply into science, technology, engineering, and math. After lunch, a variety of hands-on STEM workshops provide opportunities to explore new interests and disciplines. Beyond academics, Tech Trek empowers campers to envision their future, discover their voice, and recognize their potential as leaders in STEM and life.
2026 Camp Dates
July 12-18
Contact:
Camp Director
Doreen O’Donovan MPP
With a strong commitment to volunteerism, Doreen O’Donovan, MPP, has been active in her community through the American Association of University Women (AAUW), This is her second year in leadership at the AAUW Tech Trek Camp and she is looking forward to meeting this year’s campers.
Assistant Director
Jeri Schneider Johnstone, M.Ed.
Jeri is a passionate STEM educator and beekeeper with a background in entomology and biology. She has inspired students through her “Bug Lady” outreach, leadership in AAUW Tech Trek STEM Camps, and as event manager for Alameda County’s Science in the Park. Jeri has taught and led STEM curriculum initiatives at Northern Light School and Oakland Unified School District, earning her Master’s degree in STEAM Integration in 2019. She also facilitated award-winning student-engineer collaborations for the Alameda County Science and Engineering Fair.
Resources
We use a tool called Waldo to share camp pictures. Campers selected to attend will receive a passcode via email.