Welcome to the CalTeach Learning Laboratory!
The CalTeach program at UC Merced runs the only University of California laboratory devoted to K12 STEM Outreach! Our innovative outreach program offers field trips to K12 students on-campus at UC Merced in a fully stocked scientific laboratory. We are leaders in hands-on STEM outreach, and serve a minimum of 4,000 K12 students per academic year. All labs are led by undergraduates participating in our pre-service teacher training program.
When are field trips offered? Field trips run September - April on Tuesdays and Thursdays from roughly 9:30am - 12:15pm. Field trips include one to two STEM activities and a discovery session or campus tour.
How many students does the Learning Lab accommodate in a single field trip? The CalTeach Learning Lab can accommodate between 75-100 students per field trip. Groups with more than 100 students will still need to reserve two field trip dates.
Who can attend a field trip? The CalTeach Learning Lab is open to all K-12 students within driving distance of UC Merced. Teachers, schools, districts, and home-schooling groups can reserve a field trip in the lab.
What activities will my students get to experience? All activities in the CalTeach Learning Laboratory are developed by CalTeach staff using NGSS and Common Core Standards. Two hands-on lessons are designed per grade level each year. All activities are built to introduce students to exciting STEM concepts that support concepts being discussed in the classroom.
Who teaches the lessons in the CalTeach Learning Lab? CalTeach runs an innovative Pre-service Teacher Training Program designed to give UC Merced undergraduates hands-on experience teaching K12 students, curriculum development, and pedagogical training. All field trips are led by our CalTeach undergraduate pre-service teachers in training and experienced staff members at UC Merced.
Click Here to Look Inside Our Lab!
How to Reserve Your Visit to the Learning Lab
The lab is no longer accepting reservations for AY 26-27.
Preliminary Step: Complete the AY 27-28 pre-reservation form. This list ensures that you will be notified the moment that AY 27-28 reservations open. All bookings occur on a first-come, first-served basis.
The lab is booked for AY 26-27. Steps 1-3 are not available.
STEP 1: Submit your reservation request here. You will be notified when reservation requests open in early August for AY 26- 27 openings. Field trips are booked on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to demand, the lab books for the entire academic year in under two weeks. We HIGHLY recommend submitting your reservation request within two days of the form opening. Requests for 2026-2027 field trips in the CalTeach Learning Lab will begin in early August 2026.
STEP 2: Once your request is received, you will receive a follow-up email from our Director of K12 Education and Outreach, Mariah Gonsalez at mgonsalez2@ucmerced.edu, with details/questions about your visit to the lab.
STEP 3: You will receive a reservation confirmation and appropriate waivers/documents will be sent out to the main coordinator of the visiting K-12 student group to fill out.
Already Booked Your Field Trip?
Click here to review our Field Trip Packet!
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