TTAG at The Living Desert
The AAUW Palm Springs TTAG held their first outing of the 2023-2024 season on Saturday, November 18th at The Living Desert. It was a great turnout with 6 TTAG attendees including Danica, Zayra, Audrina, Giselle, Ianna and Jazmin and their parents. With a total number of approximately 24 people, a great day was had by all.
Starting with a tour of the Tennity Wildlife Hospital and Conservation Center, students learned about local plants and impacts to the local environment. We also had an opportunity to observe and physically hold desert tortoises.
We then toured the Conservation Garden where experts discussed the importance of butterflies to the ecosystem and their efforts to increase butterflies in local gardens. In the Desert Plant and Conservation Center students transplanted local plants into pots and finally observed the Wallaby in their area.
Hosting and guiding us on the tour was Maya Nunez, Assistant Conservation Scientist with the Conservation Center. Maya is 22 years old and is attending the Native American Indian College with plans to obtain her doctoral degree in environmental sciences. Following the afternoon’s tour, the entire group sat down with snacks near the Hoover Discovery Center and discussed the day’s events. Maya shared her personal journey and why she entered this particular field. There was a good Q&A afterwards. The day concluded with students and their family members enjoying the remainder of the day on their own at The Living Desert.
Many thanks to AAUW members, Janet Braslow and Gail Miller for volunteering with the event. The TTAG Committee is working on its next event. If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact Aurora Wilson at wilsonpl@verizon.net.
TTAG at The Living Desert
On February 25th Tech Trek Alumnae Group (TTAG), their parents and several AAUW TTAG members met for a delightful and educational afternoon at The Living Desert (TLD). We started with a presentation by local Conservation Data Scientist Cassandra Strizak who discussed her educational background, career path, and her personal journey to TLD. She reviewed how her ideas of what research is had changed from high school to workforce. Cassandra also reviewed the important conservation projects which are the heart of TLD’s mission. Cassandra showed us the Baby Desert Tortoise Project, gave us all a tour of a plant lab and shared TLD’s role in the local environment. Our excellent TLD tour guide, Doreen Myhers, and AAUW member, Shelly Westebbe, led us through the animals. One highlight was visiting the Petting Zoo where TTAG member Alexa, now a high school senior, volunteers as a Zooteen. Alexa shared volunteer opportunities at TLD, her recent college acceptances and her interest in the environmental sciences. A key feature of our Tech Trek Alumnae events is the interaction among students, parents and AAUW TTAG members. The group ended the afternoon with snacks provided by TTAG leadership and discussion of the day & activities and career paths.
Submitted by Aurora Wilson and Janet Hartzler Braslow
TTAG is back!!!!
Tech Trek Alumnae Group is back after a COVID hiatus. On October 15th a group of alumnae and parents toured the Palm Springs Air Museum and enjoyed a lecture on the history and science of flight. They were able to view the many historic planes and the new arrival– Walt Disney’s personal plane. It was a very enthusiastic group who also shared a lunch with several AAUW members. Thank you to Gail Aune, Louise Kermode and Carol Marcus for their assistance. The Tech Trek Alumnae committee is looking for new members to help organize events to further our Tech Trek students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math into their futures. Contact Aurora Wilson if interested in helping at wilsonpl@verizon.net.
Is the best part of Tech Trek being part of the Alumnae Group? It might be! We continue the learning that began at Tech Trek Camp for our alumnae.
Tech Trek Alumni 2019 hike
Continuing and building on the relationships forged at Tech Trek Camp is what our Alumnae Group is all about!
Wish you were here! TT Alumni 2019
We learned about the desert plants and their ecological importance here in the desert. After the hike we enjoyed a catered lunch on the patio of the facility and then were treated to a lecture on bats and met our new best friends, a lizard and rosy boa! This program was not only fun but gave the girls an opportunity to see another STEM career in action! Many thanks to my committee member, Kathy Zeidel, who gave me the connection to the Visitor Center and graciously made follow-up calls to all of our Tech Trek alumni to encourage attendance.
Aurora Wilson
Tech Trek Alumni Group Chair