Smithsonian Summer Camp - Presented by Smithsonian Associates
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Youth Teaching Assistants (YTA)

Applications for YTA Positions Will Open Soon!

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Youth Teaching Assistant!
We will begin accepting applications starting on Monday, December 15, 2025.

Benefits of becoming a Youth Teaching Assistant

  • Be a positive role model for younger campers.
  • Earn community service credits towards graduation.
  • Engage with the Smithsonian Institution!
  • Gain hands-on experience in a professional setting.
  • Strengthen your résumé or college application with a unique experience.

Eligibility Requirements

Those who meet the following requirements are eligible to apply:

  • You must be a high school student 15 years or older before June 22, 2026. If you're graduating in Spring 2026, you're also welcome to apply!
  • You must be able to commit to a full week.
  • You must complete and submit the online application.
  • Your parent/guardian must approve your application request.

If you are selected to be a YTA, you must also attend one of the YTA orientation dates.

Learn and Grow Through Hands-On Experience

Serving as a Youth Teaching Assistant (YTA) offers teens an extraordinary hands-on opportunity to be part of the Smithsonian Institution, a national organization. YTAs befriend, assist, and serve as role models for younger campers while supporting instructors in the classroom. Through this experience, they gain valuable skills in a professional learning environment.

YTAs can explore new subject areas—or deepen and share their knowledge of familiar ones such as art, science, history, and theater—through our wide range of camps. In addition to developing leadership and communication skills, YTAs can earn community service credits and gain a meaningful experience to highlight on a résumé or college application.

Most summer camp sessions run for five days, Monday through Friday. During the week of July 4, camp sessions will meet for four days. All in-person camps are held in the S. Dillon Ripley Center on the National Mall, unless otherwise noted.

YTA Boot Camp (Must be at least 14 years old)

Learn the skills needed to become an outstanding future Youth Teaching Assistant (YTA) in a one-week intensive training camp guided by Smithsonian instructors and the camp program manager. Students entering grade 9 in Fall 2026 or who are at least 14 years old are eligible to participate.

Youth Teaching Assistant (YTA) Responsibilities

  1. Mandatory attendance at a YTA orientation.
  2. Be active, engaging and participate, as the instructors require.
    Don't just watch—get involved! Be a positive role model for the younger participants by playing games, assisting instructors and staff, and creating a safe, memorable camp experience.
  3. Represent the Smithsonian positively.
    Throughout your entire time with us, on field trips, in the classrooms, and at lunch, you are a representative of the Smithsonian. We expect our YTAs to behave professionally, engage with campers kindly, and present themselves maturely.
  4. Hold and maintain the camp packet for your assigned camp.
    This packet contains a roster of participants, copies of each child's medical release forms, and other important information. It is your responsibility to keep this packet in a safe place and have it with you during all classroom activities, on all field trips, and during camper drop-off and pick-up. Camp packets must be given to the YTA supervisor at the end of the day and should not be taken home.
  5. Arrive at 8:15 a.m. on Mondays and 8:30 a.m. the rest of the week.
    During this time, you will help the instructor prepare for the class. Check with the instructors for specific needs and assignments. During this time, you will also meet with the other YTAs and the YTA supervisor.
  6. Be prepared for the arrival of campers.
    With your camp packet in hand, pick up your campers from Before-Camp, and be stationed in front of the Ripley Center by 9:00 a.m. for morning drop-off. Check in each camper upon arrival and provide supervision for the campers in front of the building and on the way to the classroom to meet the teachers.
  7. Always wear your lanyard with name badge and manage camper name badges.
    YTAs pick up their name badges on the first Monday morning they work. You need to bring your name badge to and from home each day to ensure access to the Ripley Center before the building is opened to the public. Make sure you have a name badge for each camper daily and that it remains on the camper's clothing during the day.
  8. You and the instructors are responsible for each child's whereabouts at all times
    Assist with restroom trips for campers under 12. Check in with instructors before you leave the camp room.
  9. Assist with field trips.
    Keep tally of campers, have a positive attitude, and help the instructors as requested. Always leave a Field Trip Form on the door of the classroom when the camp leaves the Ripley Center, informing people where the camp group has gone, when you left, and when you expect to return.
  10. Oversee the lunch hour and participate in or lead safe games and organized activities.
    Lunch is held outdoors, weather permitting, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m., with exact times based on grade, and is supervised by Camp Staff.
  11. Assist the instructors with classroom set up and clean up.
    Classrooms must be left clean at the end of each day. You will be provided with a room cleaning policy. Sometimes the classroom will need to be reset in the mornings if there was another program in the room the night before.
  12. Supervise pick-up at the end of each camp day.
    Ensure you have all of the children, and escort campers to after-camp. You must make sure each child leaves with an adult with the appropriate drop-off card.
  13. Promptness and attendance are musts.
    Not adhering to the schedule is cause for dismissal as it could jeopardize the safety of the campers.
  14. Dress code is informal, but neat.
    Short shorts, torn clothing, flip-flops, spaghetti strap tank tops, and shirts that expose midriffs are not considered appropriate for camp. You will be provided with a camp t-shirt to wear on Mondays and any other day you wish. Comfortable walking shoes are advised, as you will be walking the National Mall daily.
  15. Bring a non-perishable lunch and drink(s) with you each day.
    Facilities for purchasing meals are not available. Please keep in mind that YTAs must be with the campers for their entire lunch period, so plan accordingly. No food or drink is to be consumed on the Ripley Center concourse. Bring a refillable water bottle.
  16. Mobile phone use must be limited to break times or emergencies.
    Please do not use your cell phone during the times when you are attending to campers, especially drop-off and pick-up times. Bring your cell phone with you on field trips in case Camp Staff needs to contact you for emergencies but remain attentive to the campers.