The Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation, which operates the Children's Science Center Lab at the Fair Oaks Mall, has created an internship program that focuses on developing youth who will become the region's future workforce in the long term and contribute to educating the community now. Since 2015, the Children's Science Center's Youth Development Initiative has engaged over 400 high school and college-aged youth as interns in the Lab and community outreach programs.
The STEM Camp Internship Program supports the Children's Science Center Lab with our in-person summer camps. Interns will report to the Camp Manager. Interns are required to commit to 4 weeks of camp.
Interviews invite will be sent out by March 27, and interviews will take place in person on April 12 and 13 at 6:00pm, in a group format. Please ensure you will be available to attend at least one of the interview dates.
This internship is unpaid; therefore, hours can be used to meet volunteer hour requirements for school and/or extracurricular involvement. Successful completion of the internship will also automatically qualify interns for the Children's Science Center Lab Presidential Volunteer Award.
Interns will:
- Lead camp games and activities
- Assist in activity setup and preparation
- Practice classroom behavioral management
- Ensure student safety
- Have the opportunity to create their own hands-on STEM activities for students
Qualifications:
- Prior experience volunteering with the Children's Science Center Lab preferred
- Demonstrated interest in elementary education, STEM subjects, and/or informal education
- Learn and be able to communicate the mission and vision of the Children's Science Center Lab
- Comfortable interacting with children in person
- Experience working closely with school-aged children
- Ability to maintain a safe and positive classroom environment
- Energetic and positive team player
- Excellent communication skills
All applicants must:
- Be 16 years or older by orientation date (June 7, 2026)
- Be able to provide their own transportation
- Complete a minimum of 4 weeks of camp
Physical Demands of the Internship:
These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an intern to perform the essential functions of this internship successfully. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions. Please indicate any accommodation requests on your application (this has no bearing on selection).
Interns are frequently required to:
- Speak and hear;
- Stand upright and/or walk on feet for up to five (5) hours at a time;
- Sit for up to five (5) hours at a time;
- Reach with arms and hands, including to raise arms overhead to move and lift up to thirty-five (35) pounds;
- Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl;
- Move or lift at least fifty (50) pounds;
- Use hands and digits to manipulate, handle, and feel.
- Vision abilities required by this internship include close vision (close vision at 20 inches or less), distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more), color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors), peripheral vision (ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or to the left and right while eyes are fixed on a given point), depth perception (three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships), and ability to adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus).
- Occasionally required to:
- Smell; Perform repetitive motions; Use eye, hand, and foot coordination.
Work Environment:
While performing the duties of this internship, the intern is occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions and may be required to wear a protective lab coat, protective glasses, and/or protective gloves. Interns may be required to use chemicals with Material Safety Data Sheets provided. Interns may need to use very hot or very cold liquids. Interns may be required to utilize light tools and equipment to perform duties. The noise level in the internship environment is typically moderate to loud.