Welcome to Pre-Engineering Program (PEP)
Applications Are Now Closed
Pre-Engineering (PEP) is a weekly Saturday enrichment program for current 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students! We design the program to have hands-on STEM exploratory activities, Empowerment Sessions, and STEM Moments with Homework Help opportunities!
Spring 2025 program cost: $20 per term (2 sessions total)
Program Dates for Spring 2025:
- Day 1 (UConn Storrs): Saturday, March 29, 2025
- Day 2 (UConn Storrs): Saturday, April 5, 2025
A typical PEP Day:
Lunch will be provided!
| Time | Component |
| 10:00 - 10:20 AM | Arrival to campus (Parent Drop Off behind Castleman on Glenbrook road) |
| 10:30 - 10:45 AM | Welcome and plans for the day |
| 10:45 - 11:05 AM | Engaging STEM Presentation of the Day |
| 11:05 - 12:15 PM | Hands on STEM Activity |
| 12:15 - 1:00 PM | Lunch/BREAK |
| 1:00 - 1:25 PM | Empowerment Block |
| 1:25 - 1:45 PM | STEM GAME |
| 1:45 - 2:00 PM | Prepare for dismissal |
Transportation Information (Click The Box Below to See More Information)
Pick up and drop off will be at the UConn Storrs Campus, behind the Castleman building on Glenbrook Road.
GPS Address: The Francis L. Castleman Building, also known as Engineering I, is located at 261 Glenbrook Road, Unit 2237, Storrs, CT 06269
Drop Off Window: 10:00 - 10:20 AM
Pick Up Window: 2:00 - 2:15 PM
A parent or guardian needs to check in with one of our team members (either curbside or inside)
Contact Information
Contact: engr-peptest@uconn.edu
Urgent Phone Contact: Jerri Robinson (929) 489-4358
Information for UConn Volunteers and Host Student Organizations
| Time | Description | Location |
| 9:00 AM | All volunteers need to arrive by this time | Check in at CAST 201 Classroom |
| 9:00 - 9:15 AM | Volunteer Huddle | CAST 201 Classroom |
| 9:15 - 9:45 AM | General PEP Volunteers: Lay out Welcome Packets & Name Tags Org Volunteers: Setup for STEM Activity (If your activity needs more setup time, please plan to arrive earlier) |
CAST 201 Classroom,
CAST 204 & Room 212 (Org/Program Volunteers) |
| 9:45 - 10:00 AM | Final preparations for student arrival General Volunteers: Be In position to escort students to classrooms Org Volunteers: Final classroom setup and be ready to receive students |
CAST 201, CAST 204 & Room 212 |
| 10:00 - 10:15 AM | General Volunteers: Help escort students from the lobby to classroom
Org Volunteers: Welcome students, facilitate name tags |
CAST 201 Classroom |
| 10:15 - 10:30 AM | Welcome & Plans for the Day
All volunteers present for greeting and introductions Org volunteers leave after intros to respective activity rooms |
CAST 201 Classroom |
| 10:30 - 10:50 AM | Engaging STEM Presentation of the Day | CAST 201, CAST 204 & Room 212 |
| 10:50 - 12:00 PM | Hands-on STEM Activity
Org Volunteers: Lead facilitation General Volunteers: Support students and engagement |
CAST 201, CAST 204 & Room 212 |
| 12:00- 12:05 PM | Bathroom break
Org Volunteers support as needed General Volunteers begin lunch setup (if needed earlier, start by 11:45 AM) |
|
| 12:05 - 12:45 PM | Lunch
Volunteers take breaks as needed while ensuring students still have at least 2 volunteers present |
CAST 201 |
| 12:45 - 1:10 PM | Empowerment Session
Volunteers support as needed, or take a break if not assisting directly |
CAST 201, CAST 204 & Room 212 |
| 1:10 - 1:30 PM | STEM Game | CAST 201, CAST 204 & Room 212 |
| 1:30 - 1:40 PM | Regroup & Student Survey (QR Code on screen) | CAST 201 Classroom |
| 1:40 - 1:45PM | Bathroom Check
Org Volunteers begin cleanup |
|
| 1:45 - 2:00 PM | General Volunteers: Escort Parent/Guardian Group to Lobby
Wait in the lobby until students are picked up VII Staff (Bus Group Only): Take attendance in classroom, then escort students to the bus |
|
| 2:00 - 2:15 PM | Org Volunteers: Continue cleaning up | |
| 2:15 - 2:30 PM | All volunteers support final clean-up |
Thank you so much for volunteering your time and energy for our Pre-Engineering Program (PEP)!
Host Days (primary organization leading):
Boat Camp - April 5th
SPARK - March 29th
Signing Up to Volunteer
If you are a part of a student organization:
- Sign up through your organization (check in with your leaders (i.e. President, Outreach Chair, TORCH Chair etc) on how to sign up)
- Org Leaders, be sure to update the spreadsheet called PEP Logistics that was emailed to you.
- Deadline to update the appropriate tab on the PEP Logistics Shared Spreadsheet for all organizations by (Pending Deadline).
If you are not a part of a student organization, but would like to volunteer
- Sign up to be a general PEP Volunteer here
- Deadline to volunteer for a session is 1 week before the date of the session you are volunteering for
Walk-Through/Practice Session Days :
Spark - Monday March 24 at 6:30pm
Boat Camp - Monday March 31 at 6:00pm
All Sessions are in-person at VII Office E320 (for organization and general volunteers only): Join Call Here
Please email engr-peptest@uconn.edu if you or your organization are not able to attend or need to reschedule