| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Last year's cycle (2026): $3,900; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grades 9–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 9–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Up to grade 12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Minimum age 14; Residency: Currently studying and residing in the United States; Requirement: Be at least 14 by program start; Requirement: Be a current high-school student; Requirement: Demonstrate good programming ability in Python, Java, C/C++, or another language; Requirement: Understand computer-science fundamentals; Requirement: Commit to the full-time six-week commuter or virtual schedule; Requirement: Provide one science, mathematics, or computer-science teacher reference; Exclusion: Applicants under 14 at program start; Exclusion: Applicants not currently studying and residing in the United States; Exclusion: Applicants unable to commit to the complete schedule; Exclusion: Applicants whose skills do not match available mentor projects | Ages 14–18; Requirement: Be a high-school student age 14-18; Requirement: Submit the program and scholarship interest form for the applicable cycle; Requirement: Complete registration, payment, residential, health, consent, and credit-eligibility steps if offered a place; Requirement: Participate in the full residential academy; Exclusion: College credit has restrictions and is not available to every participant; Exclusion: Interest-form submission does not guarantee admission, scholarship, waitlist movement, college credit, credit transfer, prize, startup funding, company formation, sales, University admission, or admissions advantage | Ages 13–17; Requirement: Be age 13-17 for the ZooTeen program; Requirement: Be able to support summer Zoo Camp participants in person; Requirement: Have interest in animals, environment, conservation and working with people; Requirement: Complete any application and training requirements published for the active cycle; Exclusion: Applicants age 18 or older, who use the separate Zoo Ambassador pathway; Exclusion: Animal handling, animal-care, zookeeping or direct behind-the-scenes animal-contact expectations; Exclusion: Applicants unable to attend required training or assigned camp-support shifts |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 6 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | In person / Online | In person | In person |
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| Housing and supervision | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Stony Brook, New York (commuter track), United States residency and study required; virtual track for students unable to commute | Salt Lake City, Utah, University of Utah, Lassonde Studios | Apple Valley, Minnesota Zoo, Minnesota |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Mentors evaluate application strength and fit to limited project capacity; each accepted student receives a mentor assignment with the offer. Application materials: Essay of no more than two pages on a computing or data-analytics interest, motivation, programming skills, and past projects; One science, mathematics, or computer-science teacher recommendation submitted separately | Selection: The 2026 cohort reached capacity and accepted waitlist interest. Scholarships were limited and considered merit and need. Current cohort size, applicant count, acceptance rate, selection rubric, and waitlist movement are not published. | Selection: The zoo closes applications when the summer cohort is filled, but it does not publish applicant counts, cohort size, interview process or selection rate. |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-20Source 2 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-12Source 2 · checked 2026-08-22 | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-22 |
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