Teen Science Cafe

Teen Science Cafés are out-of-school programs where teens and STEM experts collaborate on presentations and hands-on activities that explore science topics in depth. Cafés are as unique as the communities they serve and are led by teens for teens with the guidance of an adult leader. Legacy is proud to have established Alabama’s first five Teen Science Cafés. We currently have 20 Cafés across the state! Each school café receives funding from Legacy to be used for supplies, food, and t-shirts.

Legacy is accepting applications for our Teen Science Café program!

Legacy, Partners in Environmental Education awards Teen Science Café Programs funding in the form of $1000 per semester for the first year, $500 per semester for the second year, and $250 per semester for the third year. In return, we ask you to

1. Use the Legacy Teen Science Café logo on all materials/paperwork

2. Conduct one organizational meeting and one Café the first semester, followed by at least 3 Teen Science Cafés each semester thereafter

3. Submit a short report for each Teen Science Café meeting

4. Submit all receipts for money spent.

If you are interested in starting a Teen Science Café at your School, you can find the application below as well as a PDF with more information.

Legacy will review applications quarterly and select new Cafés December 15 and May 31 of each year according to availability. If chosen, we will contact you to set up a short phone or video chat before approving your application. If your application is approved, a Contract will be sent for completion before funding is distributed.

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Name(Required)

First Last

School Name(Required)

School Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Anticipated Role in Cafe Program(Required)

Organization of Your Teen Science Café

Please carefully consider your responses and answer the following questions thoroughly as you share your plans for developing a Teen Science Café at your school. We don’t expect everyone to have all the skills and knowledge to start a Teen Café right away, so please indicate any areas where you feel less confident or unsure about how to proceed.

From which local organizations, institutions, or networks with a science-focused mission (such as universities, research centers, hospitals, museums, or industry partners) do you plan to recruit your scientist presenters? Do you already have established relationships with any of these groups? Please describe your strategy for identifying, engaging, and recruiting scientists to serve as presenters, including how you will ensure a diverse range of scientific disciplines, backgrounds, and perspectives are represented. Additionally, how will you maintain and strengthen these partnerships over time?(Required)

As part of the Teen Science Café model, you may need to train STEM professionals on how to effectively engage with teen audiences, including developing accessible presentations and facilitating interactive, hands-on activities. One of the program requirements is to complete training with the National Teen Science Café, which is designed to prepare you for this role. How comfortable are you with providing this type of support to presenters? Additionally, would you be willing and able to participate in required webinar trainings with the National Teen Science Café to strengthen your skills as a Teen Science Café leader?(Required)

Do you have existing partnerships, programs, or networks that currently reach your target teen audience? Please describe these connections. What specific strategies will you use to market the program and recruit participants? In your response, include how you will intentionally reach and engage a diverse group of teens across factors such as age, interest in science, race/ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic background. How will you ensure the program is accessible, inclusive, and appealing to teens who may not already see themselves as interested in STEM?(Required)

Teen leadership is a critical component of the Teen Science Café model and an important pathway for positive youth development. What prior experience do you have in fostering leadership skills among teens? Please describe any programs, roles, or approaches you have used to empower youth voice, build confidence, and support teens in taking on meaningful leadership responsibilities. How do you plan to incorporate teen leadership into your Teen Science Café, and how will you support teens in growing as leaders over time?(Required)

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Organization of Your Teen Science Café

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