Youth Programs

Each year, the Academy, engages youths living in communities in and near the Anacostia Watershed in explorations of the intersections of community and the environment.
Youth ages 14–18 from communities in and along the Anacostia River and its tributaries 

Explore the world of natural history science in a fun and interactive way in these after school programs! Learn from museum scientists and educators, gain natural history science and tech skills, and visit exclusive behind-the-scenes areas of the museum.
Grades 9–12

The NMNH High School Internship Program is a career immersion program for youth who are currently enrolled in high school in the Washington, D.C., region. The program runs from June to August and provides interns with practical experience through a hands-on internship with NMNH staff. By participating in the program, interns will also have access to behind-the-scenes tours, field trips, workshops, and college preparatory information. 
Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors ages 14–19

Are you interested in science? Do you like talking to people? Are you a teen? If you answered “yes” to these questions, you might be a good fit for the all-teen volunteer squad—the Q?Crew Program at the National Museum of Natural History.
Grades 9–11

The NASM Explainers Program hires high school and college students to help visitors better understand the Museum’s collection, making person-to-person connections with our iconic artifacts and stories about the science and technology that make innovation possible. Explainers work at either the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., or at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
16 years and older

Teen Museum Council is an intensive year-long program for D.C. Metro area teens who would like a role making teen programs at the Portrait Gallery! Throughout the  academic year, TMC members work on a variety of activities for other DC-area teens, such as creating a teen art exhibition, organizing a teen night out, collaborating on social media projects, initiating a video project, or offering a special teen-led tour of the Portrait Gallery. Come help us make history!
Ages 14–18

The Young Ambassadors Program (YAP) is a national program for graduating high school seniors, fostering the next generation of Latino leaders in the arts, sciences, and humanities via the Smithsonian Institution and its resources. Students with an interest in and commitment to the arts, sciences, and humanities as it pertains to Latino communities and cultures are selected to travel to Washington, D.C., for a week-long seminar at the Smithsonian.
Graduating high school seniors

Get a head start on a future in design! Teens in New York City can apply to be a DesignPrep Scholar, a free program that features hands-on workshops with professional designers, design studio visits, and college tours.​
Rising High School Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors

Are you a teen creator or maker looking to build your skills? The Hirshhorn Museum offers creative arts programs for teens ages 13 to 19. Since 2011, the Hirshhorn has given teens free access to the latest technology and art-making materials with programming from working artists. 
Ages 13–19

There's no more exciting place to spend the summer than Summer Camp at the Smithsonian. Where else can campers blast into space or take center stage, create a masterpiece or invent a fantasy world, relive history or learn to shape the future of the planet? The rich and exciting world of the Smithsonian Summer Camp program offers plenty of great fun and experiences that spark the imagination!
Entering Kindergarten through 9th grade

The Youth Teaching Assistant (YTA) Program for Smithsonian Summer Camp provides an extraordinary way for teens to get involved with the Smithsonian while earning community service credits. YTAs  are introduced to the world of teaching while supporting Summer Camp instructors. YTAs befriend, help, and act as role models to young campers. A wide range of programs offer YTAs the opportunity to experience and learn about new subject areas or increase and share their understanding of a more familiar subject such as art, science, or theater. This volunteer position is available on a weekly basis June–August when Summer Camp is in session. Smithsonian Summer Camp takes place on the National Mall in the S. Dillon Ripley Center, unless otherwise stated.
Ages 15 and older

Explore the lives, habitats and conservation of animals around the world. Camps are offered throughout the year!
Grades K–7

Looking to make science come to life for your young animal lover? Friends of the National Zoo runs weekly classes for children ages 2-13.  Bring your toddler to learn about a new animal friend each week or enrich your homeschooler’s science curriculum with our unique 5-week class series.  All classes include age-appropriate hands-on activities and explorations, craft projects, and walks through the Zoo.  
Ages 2–13