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Aviation Space Writers Award

As an Explainer at the National Air and Space Museum, you'll inspire life-long learning by connecting visitors to iconic artifacts and the science and technology behind them.

The Explainers program hires high school and college students for paid positions to help visitors better understand the Museum’s artifacts and exhibitions through hands-on activities, interactive demonstrations, and discovery based learning.

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What Explainers Do

  • Lead hands-on demonstrations and manage activity carts
  • Facilitate programs like solar observing, stargazing, design challenges, and simulations
  • Engage visitors of all ages about topics like flight, space exploration, and engineering

Requirements

To be an Explainer, you must:

  • Be at least 16 years of age
  • Currently be enrolled in a diploma or degree granting program
    • If you're in high school, you must be a sophomore or junior
  • Maintain a 2.7 GPA
  • Commit to working onsite with the program for at least one year
  • Work at least 15 hours per month
  • Be comfortable interacting with audiences of all ages
  • Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Participate in ongoing trainings
  • Conduct independent study related to aeronautics and space science
  • Be a United States citizen with a photo ID or a non-citizen with proper Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) authorization to work in the United States.

Where and When You'll Work

  • Explainers work onsite at either the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC or at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
  • Schedules are flexible and designed to accommodate academic commitments.
  • Explainers working at the National Air and Space Museum location in Washington, DC may be scheduled to work any day of the week.
  • Explainers working at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA may be scheduled to work weekends and holidays.
  • This is a year-long commitment, not a seasonal position.

How to Apply

To be considered for a position as an Explainer, you must submit the following items:

  • A one- to two-page cover letter or statement of purpose. Tell us how can you contribute to the program and how would this job assist you in your career and/or educational goals.
  • A current resume
  • A high school or college transcript (unofficial transcripts will be accepted)
  • Two letters of recommendation

Please Note: Incomplete application packages will not be processed or considered.

Application Schedule

The Explainers Program accepts applications twice a year: in the spring and the fall. 

When applications open, they will be listed on the Smithsonian Trust Careers website under the title "Museum Aid." Be sure to check both the "National Air and Space Museum" and the "National Air and Space Museum - Udvar-Hazy Center" for openings. 

Check for Openings

If you are interested in applying to the program, please send us an email. We will notify you when applications will open again. 

 

The Explainers Program is made possible by the generous support of RTX .