# High School Explainer Program

San Francisco's Exploratorium hires two cohorts of teens a year - over 130 paid positions - to run museum floor operations, lead demonstrations, and help visitors explore exhibits, after 60+ hours of training.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Organization | Exploratorium |
| Category | community |
| Cost | Free |
| Deadline | Rolling / check official site |
| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 |
| Format | In person |
| Location | San Francisco, CA |
| Apply | https://www.exploratorium.edu/about/explainers/high-school |

## About this program

# High School Explainer Program

The Exploratorium invented the museum teen-explainer model. Since the museum opened in 1969, more than 3,500 students have served as High School Explainers, the Exploratorium's youngest employees. It is a workforce and youth development program built as a hiring cycle with two defined cohorts - a summer cohort and a schoolyear cohort - together filling over 130 paid positions a year.

## What You'll Do

- Engage visitors at exhibits and encourage them to ask their own questions rather than handing them answers
- Lead daily floor demonstrations on topics from electricity and lasers to the Coriolis effect
- Help run many of the museum's day-to-day operations, and increasingly provide multilingual support for visitors
- Complete more than 60 hours of specialized training - including 20 hours before your first shift - covering science content, exhibit facilitation, career readiness, and youth development and mentorship
- Experienced Explainers may move into specialized internships and study groups

## Who Should Apply

High-school-aged students, including those in traditional and alternate high school programs, ages 15-18 for first-time Explainers and up to 20 for returning Explainers. You must be able to attend all basic training dates and work the entirety of the schoolyear or summer session. The hiring team builds each cohort for a balance of interests and capabilities, and for many Explainers this is a first job.

## Outcomes

Explainers finish with paid work experience, public-facing science communication skills, and a training record that museums and science centers worldwide have used as a model program.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does High School Explainer Program cost?

High School Explainer Program is completely free — there is no participation fee. Costs like travel or optional materials may still apply; check the official site for details.

### Who is eligible for High School Explainer Program?

High School Explainer Program is open to high school students in grades 9–12. Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

### Is High School Explainer Program online or in person?

High School Explainer Program is an in-person program based in San Francisco, CA.

### How do I apply to High School Explainer Program?

Apply directly through Exploratorium's official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.

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Last updated: 2026-07-28.
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