(AEA 2010 Session 879: Online Learning in Adult and Postsecondary Education: Theory and Practice) This paper describes an evaluation of an online training program developed with National Science Foundation funding (WGBH’s FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman). The program was designed for informal educators leading science activities with elementary-age kids (including after-school providers, teachers, camp counselors, librarians, and museum staff). We used random assignment in the treatment-control group, pre- and post-test design. Fifty-four programs from across the country participated in the study. Findings show that the program helped leaders to be more prepared and more comfortable leading hands-on science activities with kids; it enhanced leaders’ ability to convey science concepts and processes; and it enhanced leaders’ ability to engage kids and get them excited about doing science activities. This paper will present a summary of key findings regarding program impact, as well as a summary of methodological lessons learned, with a discussion of the implications for other evaluators who are performing evaluations in informal learning environments. #education #Adult #OrganizationalLearningandEvalCapacityBuilding #DistanceEdandOtherEducationalTech #2010Conference