Tech Trek Alumnae Group
TTAG at The Living Desert – November 18, 2023
The AAUW Palm Springs TTAG held its 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, Jazmin, and their parents. With a total number of approximately 24 people, all had a great day.
Starting with a Tennity Wildlife Hospital and Conservation Center tour, students learned about local plants and their impacts on the 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 the number of 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.
Maya Nunez, Assistant Conservation Scientist with the Conservation Center, hosted and guided us on the tour. 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 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 afterward. 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 for the event. The TTAG Committee is working on its next event. If you want to join the committee, please contact Aurora Wilson at [email protected].
TTAG at The Living Desert – February 25, 2023
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 local Conservation Data Scientist Cassandra Strizak presentation, who discussed her educational background, career path, and journey to TLD. She reviewed how her research ideas had changed from high school to the workforce. Cassandra also reviewed the important conservation projects that are the heart of TLD’s mission. Cassandra showed us the Baby Desert Tortoise Project, gave us a plant lab tour, 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, 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 a discussion of the day & activities, and career paths.
Submitted by Aurora Wilson and Janet Hartzler Braslow