Teens Learn College and Work-Ready Skills
THE MUSEUM’S teen programs continue to expand the skills of Philadelphia youth. Teen Ambassadors is a free after-school program focused on improving skills critical for college success, including public speaking, formulating research questions, and academic writing. Over 28 weeks, nine high school students learn about anthropology and archaeology and explore their natural curiosities in STEAM-related fields with weekly activities. Ambassadors also host educational events for other teens. Using the national model of the Teen Science Network, they organize youth-centered evening workshops called Teen Science Cafés. Topics are based on the teens’ interests, with recent cafes focused on Globalization, Climate Change, and DNA.
The Teen Summer Internship Program trains high school students for professional work by pairing them with departments across the Museum, including Development, Learning Programs, the Museum Library, and Conservation. Over the course of two three-week internships, students work directly with Museum supervisors and receive behind-the-scenes tours, workshops, and talks from staff and faculty, introducing them to multi-disciplinary work approaches, developing career skillsets, and gaining practical and professional experience.
Campus Tours
THE PENN MUSEUM has a quickly-growing number of visitors from China; in fact, Chinese tourists comprise the second-largest market for overseas visitation to Philadelphia. This summer the Museum piloted a brand-new tour package that includes a University of Pennsylvania Campus Highlights tour, a Penn Museum tour, and the opportunity for visitors to dine on campus. The package allows the Museum to showcase its incredible collection to a growing international audience and also places the University’s initiatives and campus as focal points for visitors exploring the city. Tours are offered in Mandarin or English. To book a tour, contact Group Sales (grouptickets@pennmuseum.org).
Guides Offer Worldly Perspectives in New Galleries
THE GLOBAL GUIDES tour program, designed to provide contemporary perspectives and connections to ancient objects, will now offer interpretive experiences in the Museum’s renewed Mexico and Central America and Africa Galleries.
Six new colleagues, hailing from Mexico, Guatemala, The Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania, joined the current Middle East Galleries Global Guides. The new guides have a wide variety of interests and expertise, ranging from two Penn students studying Political Science and Law, to a published author, a pastor, and an educator— read their fascinating biographies at www.penn.museum/ globalguides. From talks with curators to training with expert storytellers, the Global Guides have received immersive learning sessions to then create their own individualized tours. Training began in July, with the first full tours to be offered on November 22, 23, and 24.
Free public Global Guides tours are available Fridays at 2:30 pm, along with Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00 am and 2:30 pm. Visitors and tour operators can also book private tours by contacting Group Sales (grouptickets@ pennmuseum.org). The Museum is giving away a limited number of free private tours to groups.
Eight Years at Science Festival
THE PHILADELPHIA SCIENCE FESTIVAL (PSF) provides opportunities for Philadelphians of all ages to engage with and build a community around science by bringing informal science education to restaurants, parks, breweries, libraries, museums, and other spaces. Through five events hosted between April 26 and May 4 in Philadelphia, over 900 community members celebrated the Penn Museum’s scientific work through hands-on activities, access to experts, and collaborations with Penn departments and cultural organizations.
As part of the festival, the Museum’s Teen Ambassadors hosted a Discovery Day program in Clark Park, a few blocks from the Penn campus. The teens studied the science of conservation to facilitate the Can You Match That X-Ray? Game, interacting with visitors of all ages and teaching them to use their observation skills.
Unpacking the Past Offers China Programming
ENTERING its sixth full school year, the Unpacking the Past (UtP) program has expanded to include an in-depth China track for students and teachers. Through a generous grant from the Freeman Foundation, UtP educators developed an interactive middle school tour highlighting key Chinese objects and fun educational workshops for in-school classrooms and at the Museum. Focused on analysis of the distinctive artwork from different Chinese dynasties and evidence of Silk Road trading, the programs directly align with middle school curriculum in the School District of Philadelphia and make use of lifelike replicas of oracle bones and ceramic animal sculptures.
Despite Building Transformation construction, Unpacking the Past served nearly 6,000 students last year and set a new record for the number of participating special needs students. The Museum is delighted to provide these expanded services to students throughout Philadelphia’s diverse communities.