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 fall and spring. Each participating school selects 30 students to attend the weekly two-hour SciTech program on their campus. Through our program, students engage in hands-on science investigations covering a wide range of 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 2025-2026 Schoor Year open April 2025. 

For the upcoming Winter session, the Fleet Science Center will be working closely with five SciTech school partners. Feel free to send SciTech-related questions at any time of the year. 

CONTACT


The Tech Challenge

One of the biggest 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's challenge is to design and build a device that will clean the Pacific Garbage Patch. 

The Fall Session Tech Challenge on Saturday, January 25, will have students from:

  • Avondale Elementary School (Spring Valley) 
  • Cherokee Point Elementary School (City Heights) 
  • Johnson Elementary School (El Cajon) 
  • Bayside STEAM Academy (Imperial Beach)
  • Carlton Oaks Elementary (Santee) 

Congratulations to our 2023-2024 School Year Tech Challenge Participants! 

  • Avondale Elementary School (Spring Valley) 
  • Bayside STEAM Academy (Imperial Beach)
  • Palomar Elementary School (Chula Vista)
  • Vista Grande Elementary (El Cajon)
  • Logan Memorial Educational Complex (Barrio Logan) 
  • Los Altos Elementary School (Otay Mesa)
  • Cherokee Point Elementary School (City Heights) 
  • Bostonia Language Academy (El Cajon) 
  • San Miguel Elementary School (Lemon Grove) 
  • Washington STEAM Magnet Elementary School (Little Italy) 

Read more about the 2023 Tech Challenge

Click here for information on challenge scenarios that you can try with your school! 

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

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Events are currently being scheduled.

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