| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Financial aid | Catalog terms: Current AMBITION26 tuition support code: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Advertised as 20% tuition support. Eligibility, expiration, stacking rules, and session coverage are not stated; verify before payment.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based scholarship: Up to $40. Available but not guaranteed; application process and coverage level were not published.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Expenses and aid conditions | Catalog terms: Current AMBITION26 tuition support code: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Advertised as 20% tuition support. Eligibility, expiration, stacking rules, and session coverage are not stated; verify before payment.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 accepted-participant registration and materials fee: $40. Charged only if accepted.; Need-based scholarship: Up to $40. Available but not guaranteed; application process and coverage level were not published.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Eligibility | Grades 6–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 10–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Additional eligibility | Ages 10–17; Requirement: Be entering U.S. grade 6-12 or the international equivalent for the session's school year; Requirement: Be age 10-17 and not age 18 at attendance; Requirement: Have a parent or legal guardian complete registration and required health forms; Requirement: Be able to participate safely in a structured, technology-free residential group environment; Requirement: Disclose medical, dietary, disability, and medication needs through the registration process; Exclusion: Students who have graduated high school are ineligible; Exclusion: Students age 18 at attendance are ineligible; Exclusion: Students cannot register themselves; Exclusion: Current marketing copy says ages 11-17 in one location, while the 2026 handbook and FAQ say 10-17; verify the next session's age floor | Residency: Local high-school student able to commute to Baltimore; exact radius not published; Requirement: Successfully complete ninth grade before the summer program; Requirement: Demonstrate environmental awareness and strong interest in marine biology, environmental science or related fields; Requirement: Enjoy interacting with and assisting guests of all ages; Requirement: Attend orientation, all training and the complete first shift week; Requirement: Complete at least 10 scheduled four-hour shifts across five weeks without stacking; Exclusion: Applicants unable to commute to mandatory in-person interviews, training or shifts; Exclusion: Applicants seeking routine direct animal-care or animal-handling work; Exclusion: Applicants unable to complete the full summer commitment |
|---|
| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 1 week; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts May 17, 2026; Ends August 9, 2026; 6–12 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Format | In person | In person |
|---|
| Housing and supervision | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Location | Pensacola, Florida | Baltimore, National Aquarium main campus; local high-school student program |
|---|
| Selection and application | Selection: The program is session- and capacity-based rather than presented as a judged competition. Current capacity, applicant volume, wait-list rules, and acceptance rate are not published. | Selection: Qualified applicants receive required peer-and-staff interviews, with some placed on a waitlist. The Aquarium does not publish application totals, cohort size or acceptance rate. Application materials: In-person interview on an assigned date |
|---|
| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-21Source 2 · checked 2026-08-21Source 3 · checked 2026-08-21Source 4 · checked 2026-08-21Source 5 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-22 |
|---|