AAUW Mariposa sends 7th graders to Tech Trek Camp

The Mariposa Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) selected five 7th graders from Mariposa County to attend this summer’s Tech Trek camp at Fresno State in June.

The students chosen this year were Sofia Brum, Ava Noriega, JC Garcia, Cielo Palacio Baena, and McKenna McInerney.

This camp is specifically for campers selected by AAUW branches across the state.

It is a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) based program. The students will attend STEM based classes and other sessions in different areas of STEM that they are interested in.

They will meet people from all over the state during the camp since they work cooperatively in small groups to accomplish tasks.

They will go on a field trip and get to listen to inspirational women speak about their careers in STEM.

The campers will stay in the dorms, have a roommate and eat in the cafeteria, so they will get a taste of what college life might be like.

Th e students had to go through a selection process that included an application, an essay and an interview and they were scored on each part. From there the highest five scores were selected to attend camp.

The girls recently had a chance to meet with several previous campers who went to camp last year.

They were able to hear what it was like in the dorms and to have a roommate. They were also told what foods were the best and which ones to avoid.

The girls were able to ask questions such as what the classes were like and if they will make new friends.

Many campers at Tech Trek camp form lifelong bonds. The parents were also able to hear from two members who work at camp about what their daughters’ days will be like.

Members also shared safety protocols and fielded questions from the parents, too.

Mariposa AAUW supports educational and community projects as a branch of the national organization dedicated to lifelong learning and advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research.

AAUW organizes informational presentations and local projects such as Tech Trek, a week long science camp for girls and the Backpack Project to provide needed school supplies.

To learn more, visit www.aauwmariposa.com