ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
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Hi Skoshi,
How well I understand your plight!!! Directly prior to working at BMS, I
was ED of a community center whose primary target was youth. From that
experience, I learned that people definitely do want you to be the
"one-size-fits-all-one-stop-fix-it-shop"!!!
Here at BMS, we have a Junior Docents program for 6th-8th grade boys and
girls. (We have a science magnet school attached to our Museum.)
I run a mentoring/college prep/STEM career exploration program
specifically for low/moderate income, minority girls (ages 15-17) that
recruits from all over the City of Buffalo. Our number of directly
served girls is small (max 15, at present); however, the girls do
outreach programs with Museum Staff and work on the Museum floor, so
they literally provide hundreds of programs to thousands of children and
families each year.
As I endeavor to secure additional funding to support our program, I
find that I usually have to spend significant attention on justifying
our small number of participants as well as defending the fact that the
program is not gender inclusive, more than anything else. (As we look to
expand the program and provide a continued pathway for our Junior
Docents, I am looking to create a mirror program for teen boys; however,
hammering the logistics and securing funding will determine how soon
this happens!)
Teens are a difficult group to serve. Generally, they are allowed (in
varying degrees) more independence and are therefore a much more
transient group than younger kids. They tire and bore very easily. They
want to "know" but unless you grab them at the very beginning, they may
not stick with you long enough to "get" what it is you are trying to
impart... They are a difficult population!
I find that I have to self-promote our program all the time. I have to
make phone calls and presentations. I have to reach out to schools and
churches and community-based organizations to make them aware of the
program. There is information about the program on our website
(www.sciencebuff.org <http://www.sciencebuff.org/> ) but people say all
the time that they didn't know we work with teens. It is a very
concerted effort on the part of me and my colleagues, our President and
our Board of Managers to spread the word about the Teen Skills
Initiative.
You are not alone in the struggle!!! I don't really know if I've
answered your question, but I am not sure that I have one. We just
constantly talk about the program, our girls are present on the Museum
floor and we keep pushing along...
Thanks,
Staci
Staci A. Cameron
Community Partners Coordinator
Center for Science Learning
Buffalo Museum of Science
1020 Humboldt Parkway
Buffalo, New York 14211
Ph: 716.896.5200 ext. 343
Fax: 716.897.6723
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Skoshi Wise
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2011 7:29 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Successful Teen Programs
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
************************************************************************
*****
Hello,
I have a question for you all about the scope of the population you
serve
and the reaction you have from the community you serve. For example, at
ScienceWorks we serve families with very young children through our
PreSchool Family Network, we have preschool/Head Start field trips to
the
museum, our school program serves primarily grades K-5, we serve middle
school girls through an after school engineering program, teens
participate
as interns during the summer, we have adult functions (lectures, Brews
and
Boogie), and we serve older adults through a partnership with our local
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
There is a perception in our community that we do not serve middle
school
and high school students, although we do have the after school program
for
girls and the internship program for teens. I am curious about what
other
museums do to serve this population. I struggle with ScienceWorks
having to
be all things to all people.
So, I am curious what successful teen programs other museums offer?
Also,
if you have thoughts on this idea of a science center having to serve
EVERY
age group, I'd like to hear that too.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
--
Skoshi Wise
Director of Education
ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum
541.482.6767 ext. 226
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Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.
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