The Social Engineering Project, Inc. (“TSEP”) is an Oakland based Google and Microsoft funded social impact venture with Stanford University that is designed to address the lack of diversity in the tech industry through pipeline programs for underrepresented students of color. One of our programs is the TSEP Overnight Camping Conference, a camp for African American, LatinX, Pacific Islander, and Indigenous (Native) American high school students throughout Northern California.

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October 4-6, 2019, TSEP will take approximately 120 underrepresented 9th-12th high school students camping to learn about math, science, engineering, and other STEM related careers during a 3 day overnight conference at Camp Loma Mar in Santa Cruz.  Buses from Santa Clara, Alameda, and Sacramento counties will take the students and 20 counselors from various tech professions to the Santa Cruz Mountains, where they will be free of the typical high school distractions (no signal, no texting or Wi-Fi) and be one with nature. Parents will have to contact their children's respective schools in advance to get the appropriate permission to miss a day of school.

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Key Outcomes

1) Desire to go to college

2) Interest in a STEM related career

3) Deeper respect for the environment and work/life balance

4) Knowledge of the minority student's college experience; application process, financial aid, college life

5) Tools to build their personal brand, work in teams and network for future collaboration

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Workshops

Our goal is to inspire students to study STEM so that they may some day pursue a career in science, technology, engineering or math. This year four well known and respected companies will offer hands-on workshops that demonstrate a particular job function. 

 

Unlike many other STEM programs, these workshops introduce students to more than coding, Past workshops have taught topics as diverse as game design, website development, IT support, quality control, project management, and product marketing.

 

1) Walmart Labs; 

2) Northrop Grumman; and

3) Apple (tentative)

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Here is an example of one of last year's workshops:

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Registration opens for students on August 16, 2019.  

Tuition for the 3 day camp is $175. This includes transportation, food and lodging. 

 

Each application must include a letter of recommendation from a school teacher or counselor. In addition, you and your student must participate in a call on Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 4 PM. The orientation will be lead by Kevin L. Nichols, the President & CEO of The Social Engineering Project, Inc.

 

Several hardship scholarships are available. In order to be considered, the student must complete a 300 word essay describing why they are interested in STEM and what they hope to get out of the overnight camping conference.

 

Students who pay the tuition with their letter of recommendation will be accepted on a first come, first served, basis. Spots fill up quickly and unfortunately, we cannot accept everyone, so if you are interested, please sign-up ASAP.

 

Scholarship applications will be reviewed on Monday, September 16, 2019. 

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Call for Counselors

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We are seeking 20 (10 female and 10 male) counselors that either majored in STEM or are currently employed in a STEM related field. The counselors will accompany the students to and from camp on one of the three buses. During the camp they are responsible for a cabin of 8 or 9 students and will act as chaperones and mentors.

 

Each counselor will receive $100 stipend in addition to meals and transportation. All counselors will have to pass a background check in order to participate. To apply, please visit http://bit.ly/TSEPccCounselor19.

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Sponsor a Camper

 

If you would like to sponsor a camper who is experiencing financial hardship, please visit http://bit.ly/TSEPccFundraiser19er.org

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Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities

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There are still sponsorship opportunties, including engaging, hands-on workshops that feature job functions related to your products and technology. And the kids love the schwag that we handout at the end of the 3-day conference.