Smithsonian Releases New Guides to Empower Youth Exploration

The educational resources aim to help young people tackle community challenges.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 5:33pm

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A highly textured abstract painting in earthy tones of green, brown, and blue, featuring sweeping geometric shapes and precise botanical spirals, conceptually representing the interconnected forces of community, education, and youth empowerment.The Smithsonian's new educational guides empower youth to explore and address complex community challenges through a structured, scientific approach.Washington Today

The Smithsonian Science Education Center has released two new free educational guides, "Innovation!" and "Zero Barriers!", designed to help youth ages 11-18 explore complex challenges in their own communities and take meaningful action toward a sustainable future. The guides are part of the Smithsonian Science for Global Goals program.

Why it matters

These new resources from the Smithsonian provide young people with the tools and framework to identify and address pressing issues in their local areas, empowering them to become active problem-solvers and community leaders. By engaging youth in this way, the guides aim to foster the next generation of scientists, innovators, and civic-minded citizens.

The details

The "Innovation!" and "Zero Barriers!" guides encourage students to investigate real-world challenges, design solutions, and take action to create positive change. The curriculum-aligned resources cover topics like climate change, public health, and social equity, guiding students through a structured process of research, ideation, and community engagement.

  • The new Smithsonian Science for Global Goals guides were released on April 16, 2026.

The players

Smithsonian Science Education Center

A division of the Smithsonian Institution that develops and distributes educational resources and programs focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics.

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What’s next

The Smithsonian plans to host virtual and in-person workshops throughout the year to train educators on how to effectively implement the new guides in their classrooms and youth programs.

The takeaway

By empowering young people to tackle real-world challenges in their own communities, the Smithsonian's new educational guides aim to cultivate the next generation of engaged, innovative, and solution-oriented citizens.