High School Explainer Program

The High School Explainer Program at the Exploratorium is a paid job and youth development program for teens at the San Francisco science museum. Explainers work on the museum floor, helping visitors use exhibits, leading demonstrations, and supporting day-to-day museum operations. The museum hires two cohorts each year, one for summer and one for the school year, filling more than 130 paid positions in total. Each Explainer receives more than 60 hours of training, including 20 hours before starting work with visitors. Training covers science content, exhibit facilitation, career readiness, and mentorship. The program has been running since the museum opened in 1969.

First-time Explainers must be high school aged and between 15 and 18 years old, while returning Explainers can be up to 20; students in traditional and alternative high school programs are eligible. Applicants must be able to get a valid work permit, attend every basic training date, and work the entire summer or school-year session they are hired for. A science background is not required. Applications for the school-year cohort usually become available in July, and applications for the summer cohort usually become available in March. When an application is open, it is posted on the Exploratorium's Current Openings page under the job title "High School Explainer."