STEAM Education Intern - Brooklyn Children's Museum

ABOUT US 

Brooklyn Children's Museum (BCM) is the world's first children's museum and a pioneer in the field of informal learning. Inspired by the energy and diversity of its borough, BCM’s programs and exhibits engage children between the ages of 2 and 10, and their caregivers, through play-based learning at the intersection of culture, the arts, and science. The Museum serves 300,000 visitors annually and operates in 140,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. Learn more about BCM’s Theory of Change, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Plan, exhibits, and programs at www.brooklynkids.org. 

POSITION OVERVIEW 

The STEAM Education Internship at Brooklyn Children’s Museum will enable an intern to contribute to the research, planning, and facilitation of hands-on STEAM educational programming for family audiences at the Museum. The areas of focus within the Education department will be the support of programs in the ColorLab Art Studio, an art-making space inspired by Black artists throughout history and the world, as well as the Nature’s Engineers Makerspace, where families engage in hands-on science projects inspired by the innovations and creations of nature’s animals, plants, systems, forms, and patterns. This intern will also work collaboratively with the Public Programs department and have the opportunity to design, plan, and implement activities for cultural festivals, community outreach initiatives, and museum-wide activities.  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Facilitate STEAM educational programs utilizing Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s collection and interactive exhibitions. Activities include facilitating public programs, STEAM activities, and collaboratively workshopping curriculum and educational materials with the educator cohorts.  

• Research, develop curriculum, and prototype hands-on projects for the monthly Muse Artist program in ColorLab as well as the nature-inspired curriculum in Nature’s Engineers, with guidance from the Manager of STEAM Programs; opportunity to design tabletop signs, posters, laminated visuals, etc. to support both program spaces. 

• Participate in the Education Department as an active member to assess and plan for audience needs including program differentiation, evaluation, and post-program feedback.    

• Setting up and breaking down of programs; cleaning of the spaces as needed. 

• Maintain a strong commitment to holistic education, which involves welcoming, encouraging, and engaging with youth of all types to promote learning. 

• Assist with the design, planning, and implementation of activities for cultural festivals, community outreach initiatives, and museum-wide activities. Planning for cultural festivals may also include identifying performers, cultural partners, and vendors which may include initiating correspondence, making inquiries, and conducting research. The execution of cultural festivals at BCM may include supporting the creation of a run of the show, printing signage, supporting interpretation about the festival to be shared with visitors and in museum spaces, and helping to create and install immersive decorations. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Currently enrolled in a college or university pursuing a degree in Art History, Education, Museum Education, Fine Arts, Natural Sciences, Humanities, or related field. 

• Knowledge of art mediums and hands-on learning approaches. 

• Strong interest in designing STEAM programming for elementary, early childhood, and intergenerational audiences. 

• Strong communication skills and collaborative work style. 

• Knowledge and passion for Black artists and cultural traditions. 

• Interest and appreciation for nature, hands-on collections, and object-based learning approaches. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Canva.