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The New York State Museum, in collaboration with the City of Albany’s LIGHT Youth Employment Program, recently concluded its 2025 summer youth internship program with a vibrant, three-day public event. Earlier this month, high school students from Albany took center stage, leading interactive, pop-up programs for families and young visitors. These student-designed activities offered fresh, hands-on ways to explore New York’s history, science, and culture.

This event celebrated the end of a six-week paid internship that brought 13 local students, ages 16 to 18, into the Museum through partnerships with the LIGHT Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) and the Girls Inc. Eureka! program. Over the course of their internship, students worked alongside museum professionals—scientists, historians, educators, archivists, and exhibit designers—gaining valuable behind-the-scenes experience and creating engaging programs for the public.

Michael Mastroianni, Deputy Commissioner for Cultural Education said, “The New York State Museum is the perfect place to bring education to life—a space where young people, the leaders of tomorrow, can connect with experts, engage with real-world topics, and discover their place in a larger community of learning. We’re proud to serve as a home for programs that inspire growth, spark creativity, and open doors to future careers. Our sincere thanks to the City of Albany and Girls Inc. Eureka! for their invaluable partnership and shared commitment to empowering the next generation of changemakers.”

Kat Morehouse, Coordinator of Public Programming said, “This program is a powerful example of what meaningful education looks like—hands-on, student-driven, and directly connected to real-world careers. Over the course of six weeks, these young people didn’t just learn about museum work—they became part of it. They brought bold ideas, genuine curiosity, and a collaborative spirit that energized our staff and inspired our visitors. Watching them grow into confident communicators, critical thinkers, and emerging leaders has been one of the most rewarding experiences of our year. They are not only the future of museums—they are the future of every field that values creativity, purpose, and community.”

This summer’s cohort included 11 students from the City of Albany’s LIGHT SYEP and two students from the Girls Inc. Eureka! program. Interns worked 20 hours per week, earning $15.50 an hour, and collaborated with over 15 Museum content specialists as well as the Education Office to build meaningful, research-based programming.

The summer programming series drew dozens of families over three days, engaging visitors in everything from fossil exploration to cultural artifacts and interactive science demonstrations.

Ananya, a Girls Inc. Eureka! student said, “Interning at the museum gives me the opportunity to explore different career options in the science field, and it is really interesting. I also love meeting new people when doing floor activities.”

Jonah, a Summer Youth Employment Program student said, “Being paid to learn interesting stuff and interact with professionals is an opportunity unlike any other.”

The City of Albany’s LIGHT Summer Youth Employment Program is a longstanding initiative that connects youth ages 14–18 with paid work experiences that foster career readiness, civic engagement, and academic growth. Girls Inc. Eureka! is a free, five-year program that introduces girls to STEM, personal development, fitness, and career exploration.

The New York State Museum extends its sincere thanks to all partners, mentors, and visitors who made this summer’s program a resounding success—and looks forward to continuing this impactful work in the years ahead.

About the New York State Museum

Established in 1836, the New York State Museum is the oldest and largest public museum in the United States. Home to leading scientists, historians, archeologists, and anthropologists, its collections represent the State’s rich cultural and natural heritage from the past and present, including a staggering 20+ million artifacts spanning 1.1 billion years ago to today. Located at 222 Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission is free. For additional information, visit the New York State Museum website and subscribe to our newsletter.