Eye On Education: Museum Of Science Field Trips Create Eye Opening Experiences

BOSTON (CBS) -- Whether it's an encounter with a triceratops or a garden full of butterflies, Boston's Museum of Science is opening young eyes to science every day.

Every Tuesday the museum invites second graders from Boston Public Schools to explore its exhibits.  While it's a one-day field trip for the elementary students, it's a year filled with learning for Fenway High sophomores like Shantel Mercedes.

"It's just having fun with them and giving that memory that they can look back to, that I had," says Mercedes.

She came on this exact trip when she was in second grade and now she's a volunteer tour guide, along with dozens of her classmates.

"I just  learned how to talk to people and not be so shy," says Karel O'Garro, another Fenway High sophomore.

The Fenway students spend one day a week at the museum taking math and science classes  and to lead these young tour groups alongside an adult volunteer partner.

"My takeaway is having better communication, not just with people  in my age group, but those who are older than me and those who are younger," says Shantel.

Diana DeLuca runs the program for the museum.

"It makes it a very, very rich environment for learning on all levels," says DeLuca.

The sophomores earn volunteer credits for school. And for some teens this is their first step onto the career ladder. A few of these Fenway students have even gone on to get jobs at the museum.

"They are great role models.  Our second graders love, love working with them. They look up to them a lot so it's great to have them,"  says DeLuca.