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