Teen Opportunities
At the Adler, we believe in the natural curiosity and visionary leadership of Chicago’s youth and strive to create a welcoming space for personal growth and scientific experimentation. The Adler Planetarium provides opportunities for young people to engage deeply with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), prepare for a variety of careers, act as community thinkers and change-makers, and meet peers from across the city all while having fun!
Sign Up For Our Email ListTeen Program Offerings
Youth Leadership Council (YLC) is a teen advocacy and leadership-development opportunity for young people with an interest in centering teens’ contributions in museum spaces while building transformational leadership and advocacy skills. YLC members play an important role in ensuring that museum spaces provide equitable and meaningful experiences for young people.
You should apply to Youth Leadership Council if you’re:
- Enrolled in grade 9–12 during the 2023–2024 school year
- Available to attend weekly council meetings | Saturdays, 11:00 am–3:00 pm, October 21, 2023–May 18, 2024
- Have a strong interest in organizing, and want to boost your leadership and advocacy skills
- Interested in partnering with adult allies to ensure that teens are meaningfully represented and valued in museum spaces
Stipend And Transportation Support:
- Participants will receive travel support in the form of CTA passes
- Participants who complete the full term can earn up to a $700 stipend
Application And In-Person Interview Timeline:
- Application closes at 5:00 pm on September 11, 2023
- Invitations for in-person interviews will be sent to selected applicants by September 14, 2023
- In-person interviews will be held on September 22, 2023 and September 23 & 30, 2023 at the Adler Planetarium
- All applicants will be notified of their application status by October 4, 2023
Far Horizons is the Adler’s research team studying light pollution made up of Adler staff, academic and community partners, adult volunteers, and teens. This fall, Far Horizons Teen Captains will be responsible for working with the rest of the Far Horizons team to develop the plan for how we will calibrate GONet cameras. They will troubleshoot processes, and develop leadership skills so in the spring, they can lead the full Far Horizons Teens cohort to implement the plan they developed.
You should apply to Far Horizons Teen Captains if you’re:
- Enrolled in grade 10–12 during the 2023–2024 school year
- An alumni of Adler light pollution focused programming (Far Horizons Teens, Team Stratonauts ,or Astro Science Workshop)
- Available to attend weekly meetings | Saturdays, 10:00 am–3:00 pm | October 21–December 16, 2023 & March 9-May 18, 2024
- Have a strong interest in research and the scientific process
- Interested in partnering with adult volunteers and external partners
Stipend And Transportation Support:
- Participants will receive travel support in the form of CTA passes
- Participants who complete the full term can earn up to a $700 stipend
Application And In-Person Interview Timeline:
- Application closes at 5:00 pm on September 11, 2023
- Invitations for in-person interviews will be sent to selected applicants by September 14, 2023
- Virtual interviews will be held starting September 19, 2023–September 30, 2023
- All applicants will be notified of their application status by October 7, 2023
Looking for a summer job is challenging, fun, and eye-opening? The Adler’s Teen Internship Program places current high school students in professional museum roles. Review the 2023 Summer Intern Resource Packet for more info!
Applications for 2023 are closed.
Mission Near Space is a summer program like no other. In Mission Near Space, 7th and 8th graders become part of a unique team of engineers and astronomers whose goal is to prepare, launch, track, and retrieve a scientific payload sent to the stratosphere aboard a high altitude balloon. The week ends with a showcase in which participants present their exploration results to family members.
Applications for 2023 are closed.
Youth Organization for Lights Out (YOLO) is a hands-on STEAM learning and environmental justice program focused on light pollution. This after-school program takes place at Little Village Lawndale High School (LVLHS) in partnership with Enlace Chicago. Through science and advocacy, teens learn about light pollution and its impact on human health, natural environments, and communities.
2021 & 2022 Teen Program Participants
2021
Jasmine A.
Giselle A.
Nabiha A.
Ophelia B.
Justin C. D.
Cynthia G.
Erick J.
Margaret K.
Janice M.
Kei S.
2022
Tasnova A.
Ibilola F.
Daisy G.
Babesh K.
Dylan L.
Ryan M.
Chinasa N.
Amir S.
Da’Jai A. YLC
Salsabel A. YLC | Astro Science Workshop
Nabiha A. YLC *2 terms | Summer Intern 2021
Tarisai D. YLC *3 terms
David J. YLC
Dylan L. YLC | Summer Intern 2022
Richa S. YLC
Cynthia S. YLC
Isabella S. YLC
Apoorva S. YLC | Astro Science Workshop
Samyra S. YLC | YLC Program Support Lead * 2 terms
Questions?
For more information, email us: youthprograms@adlerplanetarium.org
Thanks To Our Sponsors
The Adler Planetarium is grateful to Bank of America, Bears Care, ComEd and the Exelon Foundation, Foglia Family Foundation, Motorola Solutions, Northrop Grumman, Pritzker Foundation, and S&C Electric Company Fund for supporting teen opportunities.
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services [MA-245279-OMS-20].
