Teen Internship Program 2023

A teen intern is working with two campers while they create their asteroids.

Are you passionate about science? Do you enjoy working with youth? For over 50 years, The Lawrence Hall of Science has been providing fun and engaging science experiences for young people. Now you, too, can be part of the magic of science learning while enriching your teaching skills. In this Teen Internship Program, you will inspire young learners with curiosity, excitement, and passion for science. Together, you and an adult staff will mentor youth on a journey of exploration, investigation, discovery, and invention in multiple modalities and through interdisciplinary learning. This program offers an ideal opportunity for teens with a science-oriented mind and a relationship-oriented personality. As an intern, you will gain practical skills, knowledge, and tools to facilitate fun, engaging, and meaningful hands-on science learning for youth. The program provides a great opportunity for professional as well as personal growth, and adds valuable teaching experience to your college application and/or resume. The Teen Internship Program requires teens’ participation in two components: the Workshop Trainings, held before summer begins, and the Summer Placement; the program is open to teens currently in high school.

Grade Level: This program is open to teens currently in high school who are available for full-time internship during the summer.

Time Commitment: Teens must be available for Saturday morning workshops held from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. throughout the month of May (see details below), Summer Camp staff meet and greet on June 2, and also for a full-time summer internship, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., all held at The Lawrence, June 5 through August 11, 2023. Partial summer participation will be considered.

Location: The Lawrence Hall of Science

Teen Stipend: $3,500 for full summer participation. Partial summer participation will be considered; stipend may vary.

Overview

At The Lawrence, we aim to increase pathways for young people into fields related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), be it in research, business, or education. This Teen Internship Program provides an opportunity to combine teens’ passion for STEM in particular and education in general. 

Teens accepted into the 4-month internship will go through a series of professional workshops, including science learning and teaching, leadership, and conflict resolution. On successful completion of the training, each teen will be placed in a summer science-educator role. Teens will each receive a stipend for full-time summer participation.

Important Dates

December 13, 2022

Applications open

January 15, 2023

Applications Close at 9 p.m.

February 13, 2023

Notifications of Acceptance Begin

May 6, 2023

Workshop 1
10 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

May 13, 2023

Workshop 2
10 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

May 20, 2023

Workshop 3
10 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

May 27, 2023

Workshop 4
10 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

June 2, 2023

Workshop 5
5:00–7:00 p.m.

June 5, 2023

First day of camp

August 11, 2023

Last day of camp

Summer Placement

SessionDatesHoliday Exclusion
Session 1June 5-16, 2023N/A
Session 2June 20-30, 2023June 19
Session 3July 3-14, 2023July 4
Session 4July 17-28, 2023 N/A
Session 5July 31-August 11, 2023N/A

Teen Interns receive ongoing mentoring throughout summer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get paid for the training workshops?

No, you do not get paid for the workshops. The stipend is awarded to teen interns who fulfill all ten weeks of the summer internship. 

What if I can’t intern all summer but really want to work with youth this summer?

If you are not available for multiple sessions, you can always volunteer for camps and simply join according to your summer availability. See the website under “Volunteers” and request summer camp.

What does a typical day in the life of a summer camp intern look like?

Interns arrive at The Lawrence at 8:30 a.m. Upon arrival, interns meet with their educational team (teen interns and adult staff assigned to a camp group), and then make their way to camp check-in. Once all of the campers have arrived, the interns and adult staff lead the group to the classroom, where they dive into activities like scientific explorations, investigations, and/or engineering and creating. Activities vary based on programming for the specific day. Days may include exploration in the Outdoor Nature Lab, investigation on Forces that Shape the Bay, or visiting other exhibits at The Lawrence. During the camper’s time in the classroom, interns are responsible for a variety of tasks, including but not limited to: facilitating activities and games, preparing materials, helping campers complete projects, and supporting adult staff with classroom management. 

The campers’ lunch and snack breaks are outdoors in the Outdoor Nature Lab, during which interns help supervise and facilitate activities and games. After lunch, afternoon activities occur in the same fashion as the morning activities. At the end of the day, interns aid in camp check-out. Before leaving at 4:30 p.m., interns work with their educational team to prepare for the next day!

What kinds of responsibilities do teen interns have?

Teen interns support adult staff by facilitating games and activities, preparing materials, helping campers complete projects, and more! Working with the team to create a safe and fun environment for the campers helps with classroom management and engagement.

More Questions?

To Apply

Applications are now closed.

To Apply

Please fill out the Application below.
Applications are accepted until January 15, 2023 at 9 p.m.

To Apply

Applications will open on December 13, 2022 and will be accepted until January 15, 2023 at 9 p.m. The link to apply will be posted here.