Ten eighth-grade girls from junior high schools across the Yuba-Sutter region shared their experiences at a collegiate science camp with local members of the American Association for University Women (AAUW) on September 19. The young women attended Tech Trek, an annual summertime camp hosted by UC Davis in July, which focuses on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The event on September 19 served as an opportunity for the students to thank the local AAUW members who helped fund their trip to the camp.
The students who attended the camp include Grace Rasmussen, Brittney Sierra, Loren Brownell, Makenna Arrington, Riley Danna, Ashley Whatley, Avery Robison, Jasreet Kooner, and Amy Ramos. These young women were selected through a rigorous process involving nominations from their seventh-grade teachers, interviews, and essay submissions, with ten students chosen from a larger group in the previous year. The AAUW branch contacts schools throughout Yuba-Sutter to identify potential attendees.
Tech Trek hosts approximately 90 girls annually who are preparing to enter eighth grade. During the week-long camp, students live in a dormitory with a roommate they have not previously met, collaborating on science projects within a series of workshops. AAUW Member Artis Buerki noted in a press statement about the camp that the Tech Trek workshops are "college-level, taught by professionals." Buerki added that these seventh graders emerged from the experience "more confident, and are ready to take on the rest of junior high, high school, and college in these challenging fields of study."
A popular event at Tech Trek is the Professional Women’s Evening, where women working in STEM careers share their experiences, allowing campers to ask questions and learn about diverse career paths.
The cost to attend the in-person camp is $900, while a virtual option costs $500. Local AAUW members, including retired math and science teacher Julie Goldwyn, raised funds to cover expenses for six of the girls attending in-person. This funding was primarily generated through their annual Garden Tour Fundraiser, held in May. Goldwyn stated that tickets for this fundraiser, which takes place at a different location within Yuba or Sutter county each year, typically go on sale on the first Saturday in March. Additionally, the Rotary Club of Marysville contributed by paying for four girls to attend the camp virtually.
Julie Goldwyn expressed pride in the initiative, particularly given her own 21 years of experience as a middle school teacher. She noted that the young women are considered part of the AAUW’s legacy. Goldwyn highlighted the importance of "exposing these girls to STEM careers which tend to be male-dominated," emphasizing that the camp aims to introduce girls to career paths they might not have otherwise considered, helping them enter high school with specific goals in mind.
Upon completing the camp, students become members of the Tech Trek Alumni Group. This academic advisory group helps them maintain connections with other students they met at the camp, serving as a "bonding and support group for different age groups," as described by Goldwyn. This continued support aims to reinforce the confidence and aspirations fostered during the week at UC Davis.
The collaboration between local educators, community organizations like AAUW and the Rotary Club of Marysville, and UC Davis ensures that young women in the Yuba-Sutter region gain early exposure to advanced scientific and technological fields, setting a foundation for their future academic and professional pursuits.