The Youth Teaching Assistants (YTA) program, offered by Smithsonian Associates, gives high school students aged 15 and older the opportunity to serve as mentors and instructional aides at Smithsonian summer camps on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Over the course of one week, participants work alongside professional instructors in subject areas including art, science, history, and theater, helping to supervise younger campers and facilitate hands-on classroom and field trip activities. The program is an outstanding way for students to build real leadership, communication, and professional skills in one of the most iconic educational settings in the world. For any high schooler interested in education, museums, or simply making a meaningful impact, the YTA program is a rare and rewarding experience.
Guiding a group toward a shared goal and keeping everyone moving together.
Guiding and supporting someone else as they learn or grow in a skill.
Delivering ideas clearly and confidently in front of an audience.
Fully focusing on and understanding what someone else is communicating.
Helping people work through disagreements and find a fair way forward.
Prioritizing tasks and using time effectively to meet deadlines and goals.
YTAs assist instructors in classroom settings, gain hands-on teaching experience, and support younger students' learning across multiple subject areas.
YTAs serve as positive role models, develop conflict resolution and active listening skills while supporting younger campers' wellbeing and safety.
YTAs manage camp operations including attendance, documentation, field trips, and supervision of multiple students in a structured educational environment.
YTAs coordinate program logistics, supervise activities, manage participant check-ins, and work within a mission-driven institutional structure like the Smithsonian.
Community Experiences
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