Teens and Pre-teens

The Field Museum aims to inspire Chicagoland area teens and pre-teens to explore and protect the natural world. Our youth programs connect them to natural history and world cultures while helping them prepare for college and careers in STEM.

If you’re between 11 and 18 years old, this could be a life-changing opportunity to meet the scientists investigating wildlife in the Amazon. Uncover the specimens lurking in our collections. Set out and see the city’s diverse habitats. Find community with other science lovers in middle and high school. Together, you can follow your curiosity to internships, career panels, volunteering, and more.

Involvement Opportunities

High School Science and Digital Learning Program

Work with scientists and other digital-savvy teens to develop an interactive project during this summer internship.

Field Museum Women in Science Internships

These summer internships are sponsored by the Field Museum's Women in Science group.

Teen Volunteers

Teens share their love of science with the public through our volunteer programs.

Supporting all youth

We welcome all teens and pre-teens in grades 6–12 to our youth programs. To increase access to these events and opportunities, we provide a number of resources to participants, including stipends, public transportation vouchers, and free museum admission. You can even earn volunteer hours, building your skills with leadership, public speaking, coding, and design. Be sure to check in with each program to see what’s provided.

I am extremely lucky that I get to share my passion for science with the entire world. I had tons of great interactions with visitors this summer! I forged a lot of new friendships. I thought it was really cool that we could share pieces of our lives with one another. I felt the love and fun radiating among all the teens this summer.

Teen Volunteer, 2018–2019

Take a closer look

Dig deeper into the world around you. Our scientists have created resources to help young scientists like you learn more about Chicago’s own rich wildlife.