Voluntology is a program by IHMC and Chain Reaction to train teens to lead hands-on science activities for elementary age kids. IHMC staff train the volunteers on the activities, and Chain Reaction coordinates opportunities for teens to work with kids to increase their enthusiasm for science.

Voluntology students receive a training on each activity, trying the experiment out and reviewing the high-school level science behind it. In addition to the activity review, at each training IHMC researchers present overviews of current research for the teens. Meeting the scientists and the opportunity to ask about their work provides the teens with an up-close look at how scientific research is actually done.

Voluntology volunteers make a difference in the lives of kids in our community and contribute to the future scientific workforce. The majority of scientists say they first became interested in science before the age of eleven, so Voluntology targets elementary school kids, providing them with engaging, exciting science experiences to increase their enthusiasm for and confidence in science.

Voluntology is a program of Chain Reaction, Pensacola’s teen volunteer center. Voluntology participants need to be members of Chain Reaction, which provides opportunities for volunteer activities with a variety of other organizations. For more information on Chain Reaction and to sign up for Voluntology, visit http://www.mychainreaction.org/.