Tech Trek Needs Nominations for 2015
Calling all seventh-grade girls in the Huntsville, Madison, and Madison County areas! Tech Trek wants YOU.
At Tech Trek, girls are immersed in a world that empowers and encourages them to think about themselves as future scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and computer specialists.
What is Tech Trek Exactly?
Since 1998 AAUW Tech Trek camps have been designed to help girls continue their interests in science, math, engineering & technology (STEM) exploration and learning, through the tricky years when new distractions enter their lives. Studies have shown that girls’ interests can be sustained if they are exposed to the careers available to women in science today. Tech Trek provides some of that exposure.
We hope they will consider entering the STEM fields which are currently under-represented by women. (See “Why So Few”, a recent AAUW study.)
Also, a week’s stay on an exciting college campus helps girls picture themselves on such a campus and visualize college in their future. This is especially important for girls whose family members have not gone to college or university.
Tech Trek in Huntsville
Huntsville’s camp, a partnership between UAH and the American Association of University Women (AAUW) at the national level, served forty-eight girls from across northern Alabama last year. Each took part in activities related to their chosen area of interest: Robotics, App Development, or Life Science. They also participated in common workshops that challenged them with everything from designing and racing moon buggies to making slime.
“We have a great team preparing for this year’s camp and our planning is going well,” says Dr. Rhonda Gaede, camp director and associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at UAH.” Changes for this year’s camp include increasing the number of girls from 50 to 60 and increased outreach outside north Alabama to include girls from other parts of the state.”
Nomination forms for this year and selection criteria are available online, and should be submitted no later than Feb. 13 to Monica Dillihunt, Student and Families Coordinator, at techtrekfamilies@uah.edu.
All nominations MUST come from the girl’s math or science teacher, so be sure to leave time for that process!
Tech Trek Camp Details
JUNE 21-27, 2015
Once nominated, candidates will be required to complete an application, an essay, and a personal interview. A total of 60 girls will then be chosen from those nominated to attend the residential camp (at a total cost of $50) from June 21-27 on the UAH campus.
Rocket City Mom is a website about raising children in and around Huntsville, Alabama. Started in late 2010 by a local mom and newcomer to Huntsville, Rocket City Mom has grown into a thriving community of local parents and now boasts a staff of four, thirteen regular contributors, and tens of thousands of Tennessee Valley readers making it the #1 Parenting Resource in North Alabama.