Teen Skills Initiative (TSI)

Teen Skills Initiative is a program for urban minority high school girls residing in the city of Buffalo.

The goals of the program are:

• To support positive youth development through Museum experiences.
• To provide teens with career exploration and preparation opportunities related to museum, education and STEM fields.
• To encourage increased awareness of the BMS throughout the City of Buffalo.
• To encourage involvement in the BMS by an otherwise underserved target audience (teenaged youth).
• To address the need for meaningful youth employment, job skill development, and science content exploration.

Criteria for Participation
In order to be considered for the Buffalo Museum of Science’s TSI program, candidates must submit an application and meet the following criteria:

• Minority females between the ages of 15 & 17
• At least a freshman in high school
• Demonstrate high interest in the sciences/STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) fields
• Self-motivated, responsible, dedicated students
• Letter of reference from a non-related adult (e.g. Teacher, Counselor, Pastor, etc.)
• Availability weekdays afterschool, weekends and weekday/weekends during summer months
• City of Buffalo resident with emphasis placed on candidates who also demonstrate a financial need
   

Summer Workshops

TSI runs during the school year as an afterschool program with participants involved in skill enrichment workshops, field trips (including college visits), delivering science outreach programs and working as museum staff.
 

“One thing that I really like about the TSI program is that no matter what we are doing, or where we go, there’s always something positive that I can take home with me at the end of the day.” “TSI is helping me learn responsibility and the meaning of hard work. The program has taught me things about myself that I never knew before”  - TSI program participant

TSI participants leading science outreach at Bethel Head Start summer programs.
Field trip to Becker Farms to go blueberry picking

During the summer, participants are responsible for leading and assisting science outreach programs, working as museum staff, leading Thursday in the Park (free outdoor science activities in MLK Jr. Park) and representing the BMS at local community festivals. The program also includes weekly field trips and an end of the summer trip.

Staff

Brian Enright
Out of School Programs and Community Partners Coordinator
(716) 896-5200, Ext. 342

TSI is supported by the Erie County Youth Bureau.