| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | $3,445–$7,195 (2027 cycle) |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Early new-enrollment tuition discount: $500. For new 2027 Teen Summer Trip enrollment by August 31, 2026; this is a discount, not a cash award.; Conditional alumni, sibling and educator discounts: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Published rates are 20% alumni by August 31, 5% sibling and 10% educator, subject to eligibility and program terms.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Application fee: $95. Nonrefundable.; Teen Summer Trip enrollment deposit: $700. Applied under enrollment terms; refundable through December 31, 2026 for early 2027 enrollment, then subject to cancellation rules.; Program accommodation: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Included in tuition; accommodation type varies by itinerary.; Three program meals daily: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Included in tuition; airport meals before and after the trip are excluded.; Round-trip airfare and excluded travel costs: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Airfare is not included. Passport, visa, baggage, airport transfer and insurance expenses may also apply.; Early new-enrollment tuition discount: $500. For new 2027 Teen Summer Trip enrollment by August 31, 2026; this is a discount, not a cash award.; Conditional alumni, sibling and educator discounts: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Published rates are 20% alumni by August 31, 5% sibling and 10% educator, subject to eligibility and program terms.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 internship stipend: $5,600; 2027: 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 |
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| Additional eligibility | Ages 15–18; Citizenship: U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident; Residency: Located in DC, Maryland, or Virginia within commuting distance of the museum for the full program; Requirement: Currently enrolled in high school at the time of application; Requirement: Age 15-18 at the start of the internship; Requirement: Write and converse fluently in English; Requirement: Available for the fixed eight-week, 24-hour-per-week schedule; Exclusion: Applicants outside commuting distance; Exclusion: Applicants who cannot attend the full fixed schedule; Exclusion: Family members and friends may not serve as the required recommender | Requirement: Entering grade 9 through graduating grade 12 for high-school trips; Requirement: Meet selected itinerary's health, mobility, conduct and travel requirements; Requirement: Submit health history and licensed-physician exam; Requirement: Obtain passport, visa and destination entry documents when required; Requirement: Parent or guardian completes under-18 enrollment and releases; Exclusion: Middle-school trips are separate products; Exclusion: Trip acceptance and safe participation remain subject to health, conduct, documentation and capacity review; Exclusion: Not every trip offers the same service, language or academic experience |
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| Session dates or duration | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 23, 2026; Ends August 14, 2026; 8 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 1–3 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | 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 |
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| Location | Washington, District of Columbia, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History | Program-specific international and U.S. territory itineraries; current departures use Houston, New York, Miami or self-booked flights |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Selective; applicants rank projects, but a ranked department or project is not guaranteed. Application materials: Four statement-of-interest responses of 250 words each; One confidential recommendation from a non-family recommender | Selection: Capacity- and fit-based enrollment rather than a single selective cohort. A completed application and payment reserve a space subject to trip availability, documentation, health and conduct requirements. |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-20Source 2 · checked 2026-08-20Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-22Source 2 · checked 2026-08-22Source 3 · checked 2026-08-22Source 4 · checked 2026-08-20 |
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