SciTech

Inspiring girls to become innovative and creative thinkers

SciTech is an after-school program exclusively designed for female and female-identifying students in grades 4–6 attending elementary and middle schools in San Diego. Our program aims to inspire and encourage them to become innovative and creative thinkers in science, technology and engineering.

SciTech is a semester-long afterschool program with sessions starting in the fall and spring. Each participating school selects 30 students to attend their campus's weekly two-hour SciTech program. Through our program, students engage in hands-on science investigations covering various topics, including solar car design, household chemistry and more. Through this project-based learning approach, students make concrete connections to everyday life while developing problem-solving and creative thinking skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. 

SciTech is not limited to just classroom learning. Our program includes inquiry-based, collaborative investigations, interactions with female role models, and family engagement activities to build self-confidence and foster an interest in science, technology, and engineering careers among girls. We believe in making science accessible to girls in underrepresented communities, and our program develops connections between girls and the local scientific community. 

SciTech’s goal is to inspire and empower female and female-identifying students to achieve their full potential in STEM. SciTech students explore their interests and passions and develop the skills necessary to pursue successful careers in STEM fields.

SciTech Applications

Applications for the 2026-2027 school year have closed.

Have a SciTech-related question? Contact us anytime:

CONTACT

The Tech Challenge

One of the most significant events in the SciTech program is the Tech Challenge. In the weeks leading up to the challenge, students must problem-solve and design inventions to complete a specific task. This year, teams will work to engineer and build a device capable of reaching a target, only after being dropped from a distant, elevated location.   
 
The 2026-2027 Fall Session Tech Challenge, on Saturday, February 6, 2027, will host students from:  

  • Cherokee Point ES (City Heights)
  • Allen Elementary School (Bonita)
  • Avondale Elementary School (Spring Valley)
  • Carlton Oaks Elementary (Santee)
  • Bostonia Global (El Cajon)
A group of 4 young girls around a work table working on a craft science project
a girl leans over her science project that is laying on a bullseye on the ground
A woman holds a microphone next to a young girl and two other girls
A large group of girls and woman posing with funny faces and gestures
A science project mars rover made of a plastic bottle rolling out of the box it landed in
A group of women pose with two girls who hold and award and smile
An action shot of girls demonstrating their design. A girl reaches out with crafted equipment into the challenge area which is blue, on the floor, and covered in fake fish and trash.

SciTech is currently funded in part by

Tue, 09/29/2026 - 16:04
Tue, 09/29/2026 - 16:04

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Events are currently being scheduled.

Thank you for your patience and support for science in our community!

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