Education
Teens (15-18)
Self-expression. Confidence. Identity. Independence. Leadership.
Develop these and more with peers and Shedd mentors. Take control plotting the course of a ship. Experience international travel that expands your perspective. Strengthen your community through environmental stewardship. The choice is up to you.
Who will you become?
Shedd Stewards
Join other pre-teens and teens (middle- and high-school students) in the Chicago area to explore local ecosystems while earning service learning hours. Spend a Saturday outside monitoring, maintaining and improving habitats so you, your community and our native animals all have green spaces to enjoy.
Dates: Monday, Feb. 13; Monday, March 5; Saturday, April 28; Saturday, June 2; Saturday, Aug. 11
Time: 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Meets at Shedd Aquarium
Fee: Free
Registration is FULL for Monday, Feb. 13. We hope you can join us for another date in 2012! Registration will resume for March and April dates on Feb. 14.
Program includes: light snacks and transportation to and from the field site.
What you should bring: lunch, water bottle and appropriate clothing for weather.
Service hours: Seven service learning hours for the day (only applicable for high school students).
Registration will resume for March and April dates on Feb. 14.
Questions? Please e-mail youth@sheddaquarium.org (middle school students, ages 11-14) or teens@sheddaquarium.org (high school students, ages 14-18).
Teen Work-Study
Shedd is looking for bright, friendly and motivated teens for our work-study program, either in the summer or on weekends during the school year. Three categories are available to students: gardening (Green Gardeners); guest experience (Shedd Ambassadors); and interpretation (Young Naturalists). Each opportunity supports the aquarium’s mission of connecting people to the living world, inspiring them to make a difference. Applicants should possess or want to develop strong communication skills and a connection to Shedd’s collection and mission, and have the desire to work in a team environment interacting with the public. Participants must be 15 or older and currently enrolled in high school. Work permits are required for 15-year-olds. Applications are now being accepted for spring 2012. Applications must be postmarked by
Jan. 6, 2012, to be considered.
Download the application.
Mentor Programs — Winter and Spring
Club Shedd
Did you ever want to be a dolphin trainer? Did you ever wonder how an octopus spends its day? Who provides care for the more than 30,000 animals who call Shedd home? Come learn more about these and other exciting careers during our Winter Club Shedd! This winter you’ll enjoy four evenings at Shedd, plus a weekend field experience designed to extend your connections to the local environment. Bring your questions, ideas, and enthusiasm as we explore the unique jobs that make Shedd a special place to be for animals and people alike!
Join us on the following Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m.: Jan. 11, Jan. 25, Feb. 8, Feb. 22.
Our overnight field experience will be Saturday, Jan. 21 to Sunday, Jan. 22.
Register now for Winter 2012!
Questions? Please e-mail teens@sheddaquarium.org.
High School Lake Ecology (HSLE)
Have you ever visited a shipwreck? Have you ever kayaked through a sea cave? Have you ever explored North America’s largest freshwater lake?
Join us as we kayak and discover the beauties of Lake Superior’s natural treasures while learning about aquatic science and exploring the ecology of the Great Lakes region in the Apostle Islands with Shedd Aquarium staff members. No camping or kayaking experience necessary.
The application for HSLE in summer 2012 is available here. All applications must be completed and postmarked by Feb. 1, 2012.
High School Marine Biology (HSMB)
To apply for this program you must have participated in at least one other teen program at Shedd Aquarium.
So you want to be a marine biologist, but have no clue where to start? We’ve got the answer. Travel to the Bahamas and live aboard Shedd’s research vessel, the R/V Coral Reef II. Shedd’s High School Marine Biology program allows you to observe and experience life as a marine science researcher. Immerse yourself in discoveries by conducting your own research.
Check out the HSMB ship's website and see for yourself.
The deadline for HSMB 2012 has passed. Please check back for 2013 dates.
College courses
The world becomes your classroom when you study Marine and Island Ecology.
Member Discounts
Discounts on many educational programs and classes is just one of the great perks of Shedd membership. Become a member today!
