Volunteer Info

Thank you for your interest in participating with SciTrek!  We have different volunteering opportunities available depending on your availability: behind the scenes volunteers and in-classroom volunteers.

Jump to SciTrek Elementary Volunteering or SciTrek Secondary Volunteering

 

SciTrek Elementary Volunteering

BEHIND THE SCENES VOLUNTEERS

Join us any weekday afternoon from 3-5pm in CHEM 1009 to help us prep materials.  We have many tasks at hand to prepare for the experiments and we'd love to have you join us!  Learn about managing classroom materials and activity preparation.

We welcome those who would prefer to have a regular volunteering schedule as opposed to dropping in. E-mail scitrekadmin@chem.ucsb.edu to sign up.

IN-CLASSROOM VOLUNTEERS

Schedule Structure

The modules are scheduled for 2-3 days per week (T/Th or M/W/F schedules available) for a duration of 2-4 weeks at a time.

See the "Elementary Schedule" or "Secondary Schedule" page to see available volunteering times.

Requirements

 

You will be working with one group of students through an entire module therefore, volunteers should only sign-up if they can attend all days of the module (6-8 days). Modules are scheduled for alternating days MWF or TR to accommodate university class schedules.

If you would like volunteer hours verified, you must tell your SciTrek lead on the first day of the module. Only classroom time is eligible for volunteer hours. 

Sign Up Contact

Elementary

scitrekelementary@chem.ucsb.edu

Secondary

scitreksecondary@chem.ucsb.edu

PLEASE NOTE: Priority is given to volunteers who can commit to the most days of the module.

Earning credit - Chem 193

Chem 193 is a pass/no pass class that offers one unit for volunteering with the SciTrek program. Students will be awarded 1 unit for volunteering for two modules and completing 5 hours of behind the scenes work. The 5 hours behind the scenes must be completed before the end of dead week. To enroll in the class, e-mail scitrekelementary@chem.ucsb.edu for the elementary program and scitrekmanager@chem.ucsb.edu for the middle school program.  Please include the classroom, teacher and class period for the module that you plan to volunteer for (dates and times are found on the scheduling pages).  

Grade Note: Only two missed days total are allowed counting orientation. If you miss more than two days, you will get a no pass. For each missed day, you will need to complete 1.5 hours of behind the scenes work within one week of the missed day. If you missed the orientation, you MUST complete the online orientation BEFORE the start of the module AND complete 1 hour of behind the scenes work. You will not be allowed to go to the module until you complete the online orientation. Missing a day due to not completing an orientation will count towards your missed days and will need to be made up, if allowed.

You must log your hours on the CalTeach Google form if you are taking this class as part of the minor in science and math education AND/OR want pre-professional hours. For orientations, log 1.5 hours and for each day of the module, log 1 hour. Each day should be logged separately. Please let the SciTrek coordinator know if this applies to you and they will give you access to the form.

Chemistry/TEP Joint Graduate Degree Program

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers a joint two-year program with the Gervitz Graduate School of Education. Students spend their first year working on an MA in Chemistry while simultaneously running modules and doing research on the SciTrek Program. Year two is spent working on a Single Subject Credential in Chemistry. For more information, please see Chemistry/TEP Joint Graduate Degree Program.

Transportation

Transportation is provided for volunteers. Volunteers meet in the hallway of the Chemistry Building outside the Secondary SciTrek office (CHEM 1204), leave campus together and then return together. Module times on the scheduling page include transportation times.

 

SciTrek Secondary Volunteering

We are activly recruiting volunteers to support our SciTrek Secondary programming.  We have need for:

  • Classroom Mentors and Leads
    • Must be between 18 and 25 years old.  Part of the SciTrek experience for middle school students is STEM mentorship from "near-peers", or expert others close to their same age.  We are now recruiting a diverse pool of Mentors for the 2024-5 school year. We providing a path to advancement with Lead roles who train and supervise newer Mentors is at the heart of the SciTrek program.
    • Can receive UCSB credit for Mentor roles (1 credit/30 hours per Quarter) or Lead roles for experienced SciTrek Mentors (4 credits/150 hours per Quarter). Email Charlotte Zeamer, SciTrek Senior Program Manager (czeamer@ucsb.edu), for details on doing SciTrek support work for course credit.
    • SciTrek Leads also commit to non-classroom support work such as program materials management, Mentor training, Mentor recruitment, etc.
    • Can receive volunteer credit for non-course obligations such as fraternities and sororities (but cannot receive both course credit and approved volunteer hours).
  • Behind-the-Scenes SciTrek Team Members
    • Assist with all aspects of SciTrek programming that does not occur in classrooms, including:
      • Continuing volunteer recruitment
      • Preparing, cleaning, and caring for program materials
      • Assisting with volunteer training
    • Must be over 18 years old.
    • Must commit to at least 3-6 hours a week of work for the 2024-5 school year, from September through June, excluding school breaks.
    • No experience necessary - training is provided.
    • Access to exlusive SciTrek talks and colloquia on topics in science and STEM education.
    • For more information, contact Senior Program Manager Charlotte Zeamer, czeamer@ucsb.edu.