"I'm working with people from all walks of life, and I've begun to see that the world is a lot bigger than 'my world.' Getting along with people unlike myself has always been hard for me. Judging people before getting to know them has been one of my faults. Thinking on a more positive level allows me to discover the beauty of people. Everyone is different, coming from different lifestyles and cultures. Culture is a celebration of our diverse communities. At the Exploratorium, I've seen people from everywhere come together. I love it!"
(Tamiko, 1993)

Explainers are students from the Bay Area and from around the world who come together to participate in a teaching and learning experience at the Exploratorium—a museum of science, art, and human perception. Explainers learn exhibits, facilitate visitor-exhibit interaction, and support general museum operations. Explainers are paid minimum wage in exchange for their training and service to the museum.

Minimum Requirements:

- Candidate must be at least 15 years old and have completed the first year of high school
- Have an open mind to learning new ideas
- Be articulate
- Be interested in working with people within a museum structure
- A background in science is not required

Are you within the Bay Area? Call our museum receptionist at (415) 563-7337 to set up your interview. Interviews will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.The receptionist will give you a selection of the interview days and times. You will have a better opportunity to get an interview that suits your schedule if you call on the first of day of the open application dates listed below.

Open Application Dates:

September 1
January 1
May 1

International and Out of State Applicants

Are you living out of the state or outside the U.S. and wish to be an Explainer? Write to us at 3601 Lyon St., San Francisco, CA, 94123, U.S.A.

In your letter tell us:

How you heard about us
What you have been engaged in over the last year
Why you want to be an Explainer
When you are available

*** The Exploratorium does not offer j-1 visas for this program. International applicants are considered as volunteers to the program. However, a j-1 visa that has been authorized through an embassy or youth internship program can be accepted in order to receive minimum wage.****

To ensure consideration of your application letter, we need to recieve it two months before open application time.

Past Explainers say...

"I appreciate certain challenges that I encounter on the job, such as new exhibits, cow eye, and brain dissections. Meeting a lot of visitors has greatly improved my social skills. It’s cool being an Explainer because it teaches teamwork, and it feels good to be serving others, both the visitors and staff, in a helpful way." (Morihiro, 2000)

"There were times when something didn't catch my interest in class, but it did when I learned it here. It was hands-on; there was actual proof. It wasn't something read from a textbook." (Marta, 1987)

"I learned a lot of science concepts that I wasn’t even aware I had learned. These concepts often made my science class easier for me; I could often relate them to an exhibit at the Exploratorium." (Katie, 2002)

"Working at the Exploratorium has given me the opportunity to learn and to teach what I'm learning to others. I'm thankful for a chance to learn about physics, a subject I never learned about in high school. Working with people has made me more open in communicating with others. I've also learned about being responsible in a work situation." (Gina, 1993)

"There's an exhibit about how metal expands as it heats up. You can actually feel a metal rod growing as it gets hot! I mean, that's exciting. I think the fact that you can observe the real thing makes it a lot more interesting." (David, 1980)

"The positive impact of working at the Exploratorium on my life has been immense. Not only has the knowledge I have attained here given me the ability to rise to the top of my classes, but the additional self-confidence has allowed me to go out for all the things I always wanted to but was afraid to try at." (Molly, 2001)

"It is not like school where you solve a problem and the instructor might help you with a step you were stuck on. No, this was a much more interactive kind of thing. And you find a lot of times you could answer your own questions just by experimenting with the exhibits." (Philip, 1983)

"I enjoy working here because of its diversity, amount of available knowledge and stimuli, and respectful, yet young and energetic vibes that emanate from fellow Explainers and other staff of this wonderful museum." (Johann, 2000)

"The Exploratorium has opened a whole new world and sparked an interest in science I never had before." (Mariza, 1993)

For further information, contact:
Explainer Program
Exploratorium
3601 Lyon Street
San Francisco, CA 94123

© Exploratorium