The Association of Science-Technology Center's YouthALIVE! program
     supports the development and implementation of youth programs in
     science centers and children's museums around the country. YouthALIVE!
     is a national initiative of the DeWitt Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund.

     YouthALIVE! programs provide young people, ages 10 to 17, particularly
     those from low-income communities, with positive experiences that
     integrate work and education, and that foster communication skills, an
     interest in learning and an enhanced sense of self-esteem.

     The YouthALIVE! initiative helps museums establish and strengthen
     community partnerships. Museums are collaborating with community
     centers, public housing developments, Boys & Girls Clubs, and other
     youth-serving organizations.

     The YouthALIVE! initiative supports a professional development network
     of grantees dedicated to promoting the development of quality youth
     programming in museums.

     One example of a YouthALIVE! program is at the

     New York Hall of Science
     4701 111th Street
     Corona, NY 11368
     (718) 699-0005 Fax: (718) 699-1341

     The YouthALIVE! programs at the New York Hall of Science are part of
     the Science Career Ladder, a career-access program for
     underrepresented youth. The Career Ladder has rungs at levels from
     junior high school through college. The YouthALIVE! programs focus on
     junior high school and high school and feed directly into the
     undergraduate program.

     Junior High School: The museum offers a Saturday Science Club for
     unaccompanied youth who register for a month at a time. High school
     and college-level students provide guidance in exhibit interpretation,
     homework assistance, and hands-on science activities. In the Big
     Buddies Program, junior high school youth and college-level students
     interpret exhibits in teams.

     High School Interns begin as Public Program Assistants and then move
     on to Explainer Intern positions. High school youth are actively
     involved in the public life of the museum, providing interpretation,
     demonstrations, help with orientation of family and school groups, and
     a variety of special events. All high school students receive pay for
     their work.

     More program descriptions and addtional information about YouthALIVE!
     may be found on ASTC's website at www.astc.org/astc under in the
     _Youth Programs_ link under "About ASTC".

     For more information contact Tanya Tucker, YouthALIVE!, 1025 Vermont
     Avenue, Suite 500, Washington, DC, 20005; 202/783-7211; -7207 (fax)


     -Steve

     Steve Eichner
     Research Analyst
     Association of Science-Technology Centers