Teen Volunteers – Galaxy Explorers
STEM Workforce Development
Building a Passion for Space, Science, and Service
Service, Learning, and Leadership Pathways to a Universe of Possibilities
Does learning about space and science inspire you? Do you enjoy helping people learn? The Galaxy Explorers Program provides a home away from home where you can explore STEM careers, develop valuable workplace and leadership skills, find belonging and community, and share science topics you never imagined with public audiences!
Overview
The Galaxy Explorers Program is the foundation for Chabot’s Oakland Space Academy (OSA), a 3-year workforce development program that high school students typically enter the summer before 10th grade and remain through 12th grade.
Service and Community Outreach
Durable skills such as leadership, communication, teamwork, and critical thinking are highly valued by employers and essential for future careers. As a Galaxy Explorer (GE), you will build these skills through service and community outreach. You will receive training in astronomy and related topics that prepare you to lead science demonstrations on the museum floor and support planetarium shows. During floor shifts, you will be a museum explainer at Chabot Space & Science Center, using exhibits and science resources to help visitors explore topics such as aerodynamics, biotechnology, solar physics, and meteorite identification. By engaging visitors—sparking curiosity and building understanding about the universe and how science and technology impact life on Earth—you will practice different durable skills and earn badges as you demonstrate mastery. You will sign up for floor shifts online during times that fit your schedule. During the school year, you are expected to complete 2 floor shifts per month. In the summer, you are expected to complete 3 shifts per month.
STEM Learning and Internships
As technology continues to change the way people work, developing technical and durable skills earlier will help prepare you for future careers. As a GE, you will join a different Inquiry Team each semester focused on engineering, climate technology, and digital media, where you will be introduced to technical skills and tools important to STEM-related careers. These skills and tools could include AI and coding, CAD design and fabrication, robotics, mapping environmental satellite data, video editing, animation, game design, or other skill sets. In your Inquiry Teams, you will work on projects that dive deeply into real-world questions from space and STEM fields. Inquiry Teams meet 7 times per semester, including a public showcase event. Showcase products may become part of Chabot exhibits or programming. You may also apply for externships with OSA’s industry partners such as NASA Ames that provide career exploration opportunities.
Leadership Development
The longer you participate in the program, the more leadership opportunities become available to you. For instance, 11th graders may serve as Mentors that support groups of new GEs in their Inquiry Teams and during their Floor Shifts. The role of a Mentor is to build a culture of belonging and community at Chabot. 12th graders may serve as Interns that are the first-level managers of the GE program, organizing and managing the floor, certifying badge completion, and leading more specialized education programs. Interns also serve as Inquiry Team teaching assistants and may complete an individualized project with one of Chabot’s departments such as Exhibits, Outreach, Membership, or Public Programs. Interns receive a stipend contingent upon the completion of leadership program requirements.
Tuition Fees and Financial Assistance
Annual tuition for each student is $1500. This can be paid in one lump sum by June 1 or in two payments of $750 due June 1 and $750 due September 1. Financial assistance is available for students based on need. More information about financial assistance can be found below.
Application Process
Galaxy Explorer applications open February 1 and close March 31. Interested students can apply here.
- Complete and submit an application.
- Received applications undergo an initial review.
- Applicants and their families are then invited to attend a virtual information session, offered on multiple occasions. Attendance at one information session is a required step in the application process.
- The applications of those who attend an information session are moved to the next stage of evaluation and entered in a lottery. Many slots are open for current 9th grade applicants. Openings for current 10th grade applicants depend on space availability.
- Admission letters are sent in early May.
- Those who enroll attend a mandatory Orientation in early- to mid-June.
We seek candidates with an interest in space and science and a desire for personal growth. There is no specific skillset, experience, or GPA necessary, and students of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, especially students from Oakland public and charter schools.
Financial Assistance – The Career Access Program
We offer financial assistance, based on need, through the Career Access Program. Eligible students for the Career Access Program automatically receive an annual scholarship of $1500 to cover the cost of tuition. Career Access GEs can also participate in extra training and special community engagement shifts to earn an access stipend of $500 per term for a total of $1500 annually across summer, fall, and spring terms. Students who rise to level of Intern during their senior year are eligible for an additional stipend.
During a Career Access student’s first summer as a GE, they are required to participate in the six-week Summer Bridge Program, which provides the foundational training and support needed for success in the Galaxy Explorers Program and continued scholarship eligibility.
Eligibility for the Career Access Program is determined by census tract data and other metrics captured in the application process. Career Access eligibility for those who do not qualify during the application process is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
For any questions or inquiries, please contact us at GalaxyExplorers@ChabotSpace.org
