Why become a Youth Teaching Assistant?
- Be a role model.
- Earn community service credits towards graduation.
- Interact with the Smithsonian Institution!
- Gain experience in a professional setting.
- Have an intriguing experience to add to a resume or college application.
It's Great Experience!
Serving as a YTA provides an extraordinary hands-on way for teens to be involved
with a national organization, the Smithsonian Institution. YTAs befriend,
help, and act as role models for younger children. Assisting
instructors in the camp room, YTAs gain unique experience in a professional setting.
The wide range of programs offer YTAs the opportunity to experience and
learn about new subject areas or increase and share their understanding
of a more familiar subject such as art, science, history and collections overall.
The wide range of programs offer YTAs the opportunity to experience and
learn about new subject areas or increase and share their understanding
of a more familiar subject such as art, science, or theater. YTAs can
earn community service credits and have an intriguing experience to add
to a resume or college application.
Summer camp sessions almost all meet for a five-day week, Monday through Friday;
the weeks of Juneteenth and July 4th, camp sessions will meet for four days. In-person camp sessions are held on the National Mall
in the S. Dillon Ripley Center, unless otherwise stated.
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 2023 or who are at least 14 years old are eligible to participate.