Science centers and museums have a unique opportunity—not only to spark curiosity about the natural world—but also to engage young people in meaningful action around the issues they care about. In support of this work, ASTC is pleased to highlight a valuable new resource: the Youth Civic Engagement Toolkit, developed by Afterschool Alliance’s Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS).
Young people today care deeply about issues—whether it’s climate change, equity in STEM, or how technology reshapes society. But they often encounter barriers: feeling their voices don’t count, lacking access to civic literacy, or seeing few authentic civic-engagement pathways.
For professionals in informal learning settings, the toolkit and report offer a range of resources and information, both practical and inspirational.
- Definitions clarify and distinguish key terms like civic engagement, youth voice, and civic literacy.
- Spotlights and case studies of youth-led civic action—from tackling mental-health isolation to building AI curricula—show what is possible when organizations center the ideas and leadership of youth.
- Data highlight the current opportunity gap for youth civic engagement, and the potential for informal learning organizations like science centers and museums to fill that gap.
- Tools, like the spectrum of youth civic engagement, offer guidance for organizations to reflect on current or future programs that involve youth.
- Additional curated resources, including curricula, educator toolkits, webinars, and guides can support the design and facilitation of programs focused on youth civic engagement.
For science centers and museums, youth are more than audiences; they have the potential to be co-designers, civic actors, and change-makers. The Civic Engagement Toolkit provides guidance and tools for organizations wanting to leverage this potential and partner with youth to make a difference.