Tech Trek Summer Camps were first established in 1978 by an American Association of University Women (AAUW) member, Marie Wolbach, who recognized that girls tend to give up on math and science in middle school. 

    The week-long camps were designed to give rising eighth-grade girls the opportunity to thrive in an environment of hands-on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workshops with other girls. 

    The seven enthusiastic rising eighth-grade girls – Riley Chong and Sophie Humphrey from Orinda, Maria Rudyak and Erin Yin from Moraga and Louise Marty, Emma Rosenblat, Sophia Sturtz from Lafayette – were selected this past spring by the Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette (OML) Branch of AAUW and attended Tech Trek camp at Santa Clara University in July. 
 
    During the week, morning core classes on forensics, engineering, oceans and botany were packed with hands-on activities. Some of the activities included evaluating finger prints and using logic to follow the clues to solve a “murder,” making roller coasters, mousetrap cars and stomp rockets. The girls also learned about marine biology, information about plastics in the ocean and how melting glaciers affect the ocean.  They dissected flowers and learned about insect pollinators and the chemistry of photosynthesis in botany. 

    Afternoon and evening activities included building and programming robots, soldering to make a flashlight, measuring vitamin C in a college chemistry lab and talking with astronomers about their telescopes, and more. 
 
    Members of the OML branch enjoyed being volunteer camp staff.The Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette Branch of AAUW meets at the Orinda Community Church. All are welcome to join at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15 to learn about the many member activities.