Museum Apprentice Program

Welcome to your first step on the road to the Museum Apprentice Program (MAP) at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis! We are pleased that you are interested in joining our team.

Teens in the program get to participate in great one-of-a-kind projects like digging for real artifacts at this archaeological dig site.

What is MAP?

 MAP is a project-based program for youth ages 13 to 18. Youth work closely with staff, teachers, adult volunteers, and other youth participants on projects that relate to museum exhibits, activities, and internal programs. Participants work on at least two major projects per year, and also spend time sharing knowledge with children and families. Upon acceptance to the program, teens are considered active as long as they maintain their commitments. Museum Apprentices may continue to participate during the summer after high-school graduation.

What makes MAP different from other youth programs?

MAP is a project-based program. This means that our primary focus is not volunteer work, but learning about the museum by creating projects. Past projects have included preparation of bones for Dinosphere®, working on independent projects in the Biotechnology Learning Center, and designing teen-oriented summer special events like the MAP Renaissance Faire, International Festival, and MAP Music Fest. Staff provide participants with background information, contact with experts, and project guidance.

What is expected of youth in the program?

MAP is a year-round program. We expect all youth to maintain contact with the program throughout the year and commit a minimum of two days at the museum every month, which is approximately 6 to 8 hours a month.

Participants must also commit to:

• Participating in majority of the meetings during our intensive six-week summer session from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
• Two Saturdays a month for professional development workshops and training opportunities in the fall.