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

 Join SciTrek as a Classroom Mentor!

We're recruiting volunteers for the 2024-2025 school year to support our SciTrek Secondary program.

Who We Need:

  • Classroom Mentors (Ages 17-25)
  • Inspire middle schoolers through hands-on STEM mentorship as a near-peer guide.

Perks:

  • Earn UCSB course credit (1 credit for 30 hours per quarter)
  • Build your resume with valuable experience in STEM education
  • Get volunteer credit for non-course commitments (e.g., fraternities, sororities)
    • Cannot be combined with course credit

Ready to make an impact? Sign up for a SciTrek Fall Module today! 

Fall Module Shifts are closed for the quarter!  Check back soon for Winter and Spring shifts!

 

Email Charlotte Zeamer, Senior SciTrek Program Manager with any questions: czeamer@ucsb.edu.