Museum Educators: Develop Your Own SCL

Attention Museum Professionals: Develop a Youth Program in your Institution!

The New York Hall of Science is seeking science centers and museums to participate in the Science Career Ladder Dissemination Project. Over the next three years, the Hall will work with 16 sites to implement the best practices of this innovative education, employment and mentoring program that prepares students for careers in science, technology and education fields. The program employs approximately 150 urban high school and college students each year as Explainers, who are trained to provide:

exhibition interpretation
on-floor science demonstrations
orientation
workshop support for visitors

Through training, evaluation and rewards systems, youth employees are mentored into leadership roles. Essentially you are growing your own staff - people who understand your mission, your exhibits and your audience.

Using the Science Career Ladder (SCL) as a model, the Hall will work with each organization to craft a youth employment program that will fit within their organizational structure and strategic goals. Two staff members from each selected institution will attend training at the Hall, followed by phone conferences and site visits by members of Hall staff. This project is made possible through generous funding from the Noyce Foundation and the U.S. Institute for Museum and Library Services.

The current cycle of dissemination sites has been filled, and we are working closely with select science centers and museums from around the world to develop their programs. If your institution is interested in future partnerships or consultations with the Hall, please contact Andrea Motto at amotto@nyscience.org or 718.699.0005 x 403.