Tech Trek: A Strategic Model of Community Partnership and STEM Empowerment

Program Origins: Tech Trek was established in 1998 by AAUW of California member Marie Wolbach, supported by an AAUW Community Action Grant. Designed as a weeklong summer camp, the program introduces girls entering eighth grade to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The program is administered nationally through AAUW and locally by AAUW California, with over 100 participating branches.

Mission and Objectives: Tech Trek provides students with an immersive, university-based STEM experience intended to foster academic engagement, bolster self-confidence, and inspire future educational and career pursuits in STEM disciplines. The camp’s curriculum emphasizes hands-on activities, collaboration, and exposure to college-level environments, helping participants envision themselves in STEM-focused pathways.

AAUW Torrance Branch Participation: The AAUW Torrance Branch adopted the Tech Trek initiative in 1999, initially sponsoring three students. Since then, the branch has actively partnered with area middle schools to identify and nominate promising candidates—particularly those who may lack access to such enrichment opportunities. The branch’s Educational Partnership Committee (EPC) oversees all aspects of program coordination, including candidate selection, school engagement, donor outreach, and administrative logistics.

As of 2025, the AAUW Torrance Branch has sponsored 704 students to attend Tech Trek camps held on California university campuses.

Impact and Community Engagement: By underwriting camperships and providing this opportunity at no cost to families, AAUW Torrance affirms its commitment to educational equity and empowerment. The program not only reinforces STEM’s relevance for young women but also underscores the broader message that STEM fields are inclusive, attainable, and vital to future innovation.

Tech Trek STEM Camp for Girls is a distinguished educational program administered through the AAUW California Special Projects Fund (SPF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 68-0463071).

For more information on how you can participate in the Tech Trek program, please e-mail us at aauwtorrance@gmail.com