Summer Teen Volunteers
We love sharing our passion for science and natural history with future leaders in the field. We offer two programs that invite qualified high schoolers—from rising freshmen to students about to begin senior year—to spend their summers learning and sharing with visitors.
Teen volunteers bring the Field Museum to life for visitors of all ages.
Teens must commit to volunteer at least 10 days throughout the summer to successfully complete the program and qualify to apply for future year-round volunteering.
For current high school students
Where you'll work
Summer teen volunteers split their time between the Crown Family PlayLab and interpretive carts in Stanley Field Hall.
In the PlayLab, volunteers are trained to interact with young learners in a hands-on educational setting, facilitate drop-in programming, and help keep the space running smoothly. With interpretive carts, teens engage visitors and handle and share artifacts and specimens.
Application process
Applications for our summer teen volunteer program are open through March 16, 2020.
Teens must be current high school students at the time of application. (Current eighth graders going into high school can apply to our Bridge Program, see below.)
In-person interviews will be scheduled with selected candidates on April 4 and April 19, 2020.
All teen volunteers must attend a mandatory training on May 30 and 31, 2020, 10am–4pm.
The program will run June 8 to August 14, 2020.
There is limited capacity for this competitive program—only the top candidates are selected! Our teen volunteers are outgoing, think quickly on their feet, and love learning about the world around them. Interested teens should demonstrate a strong interest in the natural sciences and/or early childhood education. Bilingual skills are a plus.
Teen volunteers go behind the scenes at the Field Museum.
For students starting high school
Graduating eighth graders can get an introduction to the Teen Volunteer Program through our Bridge Program.
It’s an opportunity for young teens from across Chicagoland to learn about the Museum and teen volunteer program—and develop valuable skills in education and public speaking through hands-on learning and behind-the-scenes experiences with scientists.
As part of their curriculum—which is designed by teen volunteers—participants develop a mini-program in their area of interest and present it to the public in Stanley Field Hall on the last day of the program.
Application Process
Applications are open. The Bridge Program hosts two sessions for 2020: June 22–26 and August 10–14.