If you are a teen looking to work in a museum or participate in a program at a museum, then this is the page for you. (If you work with teens or have a teen, then you can help steer them to a program or job opportunity that might interest them.) Teen Programming can be found at Adler Planetarium, Art Institute of Chicago, and the National Museum of Mexican Art. Paid Teen Internships can be found at Adler Planetarium, Art Institute of Chicago, and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
The Art Institute of Chicago
Teen Free Admission
The Museum is always free for Chicago teens 17 and under! As of 2/11/2021 the museum is open with new hours and safety procedures. You’ll need to get your free ticket in advance, so check the website for updates, tickets, and the most current information about what’s happening.
Teen Audio Guide
Experience the museum through sounds and stories produced by Chicago teens. Expand your perspective on the Grand Staircase. Meditate to an original soundscape in the Ando Gallery. Connect with contemporary art through spoken word by some of Chicago’s best young poets. Immerse yourself in the ideas, interpretations, and creativity of Chicago youth.
The Teen Audio Guide is available for free on the Art Institute of Chicago Official Mobile app and streaming on the website.
National Museum of Mexican Art
Yollocalli Arts Reach is the teen and youth program of the National Museum of Mexican Art. Free art and digital media programs are offered yearly for students ages 13-24. Yollocalli Art Studios are located in both Little Village and Pilsen. Back to the topTeen Employment Opportunities
Adler Planetarium
The current positions are filled. See the Teen Summer Opportunities page for future work options.
The Art Institute of Chicago
The current positions are filled. See the Teen Summer Opportunities page for future work options. Or you can email teens@artic.edu to get updates and ask questions.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Teenagers Exploring and Explaining Nature and Science (TEENS) – Summer, Fall, and Spring (ASM Advanced Apprenticeship)
Youth in the Teenagers Exploring and Explaining Nature and Science (TEENS) program participate in scientific investigations of ecosystems found in city parks and neighborhoods. Teens collect data for existing local, regional and global research projects and develop their own research questions to investigate. Teens gain experience with a wide range of environmental science field and laboratory methods for studying urban ecosystems, design data collection protocols and shareable mobile data collection forms, collect data for their projects, and contribute to peers’ projects. Using web-based apps, youth analyze data and create media-rich digital maps and other data visualizations that are posted on teen-created project websites. This is a paid, stipend-based opportunity. For more information, visit naturemuseum.org/teens. Apply through After School Matters at afterschoolmatters.org/teens/apply/
Camp Counselor Internship – Summer (ASM Internship)
Counselors review activities, prepare for camp sessions, and participate in staff training. Counselors bring high energy and enthusiasm each day as they help supervise up to thirty campers. By the end of the internship, counselors develop skills and knowledge in lesson implementation, informal education instruction, verbal communication skills, large group management (including age-appropriate management strategies), and content knowledge in local habitats and science. *All interns need a social security number. This is a full-time, paid seasonal opportunity. For more information about Nature Museum Camps, visit naturemuseumcamp.org. Apply through After School Matters at afterschoolmatters.org/teens/apply/
