Tech Trek is a STEM enrichment program that started in 1998 in California as a weeklong summer camp that offers girls entering 8^th grade a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the world of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and possibly see a future for themselves in it.   

Historically, women have been underrepresented in STEM careers.  The research in  Why So Few? discusses what is still to be understood about girls and women in scientific fields.

For 27 years AAUW North Tahoe has supported girls in STEM by sending them to Tech Trek (TT) camps!   Thus far, due to the commitment and generosity of our members and supporters, 123 girls from North Tahoe have attended camp.  Every July, five more local 7th-grade girls will go to camp at the University of California, Davis.

Dozens of other California AAUW branches and a thousand girls each year are supported at eight residential camps on college campuses in CA. Additionally, a robust Virtual Tech Trek Camp (VTT), that started as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic, continues to this day.

The goals of Tech Trek are to:

• encourage a diverse group of middle school girls to take math and science courses throughout high school.
• motivate girls to attend college, especially first-generation college students.
• inspire young women to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and math through hands-on experiences and role models.

Tech Trek Residential Camps

Tech Trek camps are rich in activities such as dissection in anatomy, sequestering DNA in genetics, and building solar cars.  Other on-campus Core Classes may include engineering, coding, cyber security, plant science, robotics, climate science, and math.  Field trips, physical activities, game playing, writing thank you letters, star gazing, confidence building and more, make for rich and fulfilled days at camp.  Similar exceptional activities are also offered online for VTT campers.

In 2024 the UC Davis Residential Camp added: Storytelling with Data.  It was fun and fascinating!  Other activities included robotics, rocketry, chemistry, physics, marine biology, and astronomy. The girls also learned about veterinary science at the world-renowned UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and acoustics/sound engineering at the Mondavi Center for Performing Arts.  The UC Davis campus also added Plant Biology in 2025!

Locally and state-wide, Tech Trek programs will put considerable focus on the requirement for campers to be ambassadors for Tech Trek through high school, thus providing mentors for the younger campers and support for the future of AAUW.  Selected campers agree to this commitment with the help of family and the AAUW branch Tech Trek Team.  Suggestions from AAUW NT membership are requested to help offer interesting activities for engagement!

Virtual Tech Trek

The VTT camp has a core class of Technology and Robotics, it offers many afternoon and evening workshops and inspirational speakers on astrophysics, nutrition, climate change, and other topics.  The last day of VTT camp features presentations by the campers of their Internet of Things, or Wearable Tech projects.

Pre and post surveys of girls who attended VTT camp showed that their interest in engineering rose from 15% to 41%, and became their first career choice!

In the summer of 2026 AAUW NT hopes to send one girl to Virtual Tech Trek.  During the application and interviews for Tech Trek 2026, our Tech Trek Branch Coordinator will highlight the benefits of VTT, in case an applicant/nominee finds attending virtually appealing.  A weeklong virtual camp in the middle of summer may not excite some girls, but for a student enthusiastic about coding and robotic technology it could be perfect!  VTT is a proven success.  It is an innovative, hands-on, and interactive STEM camp staffed by professional women and VTT alums.  Our own Cheryl Allen has served the VTT camp for several years when needed, though many alums of the program are now filling positions.  Yay alums!

The State Director of Tech Trek has suggested that former residential TT campers from the Robotics Core Class (North Tahoe has a couple) might apply as coaches for VTT given their experiences with similar technology in Robotics and if knowledgeable, might be selected as a virtual coach who are eligible for a paid stipend, even as young as 15 years old!

Tech Trek Alumni Group (TTAG)

AAUW NT is working on supporting a Tech Trek Alumni Group to engage in  local activities and online gatherings focused on STEM, camaraderie, and fun!

Tech Trek Alum success!

North Tahoe Trekker alumni Roxana Cabrera, Fresno TT camp 2006, completed her residency at Stanford Medical School and started her family.  Congratulations Dr. Cabrera!