| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Last year's cycle (2026): $495–$575; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: $790–$5,925; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Last year's cycle (2026): West Point SLE need-based scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Need-based assistance is available; amount and application process vary.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: Scholarship and personalized assistance: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Scholarships, personalized prices, payment plans, and some non-monetary barter are available; award amounts are individualized.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Last year's cycle (2026): West Point SLE need-based scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Need-based assistance is available; amount and application process vary.; Travel to and from the academy: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Participant responsibility for USNA and West Point; both describe limited airport-to-campus ground transportation. USAFA terms require separate verification.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: Scholarship and personalized assistance: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Scholarships, personalized prices, payment plans, and some non-monetary barter are available; award amounts are individualized.; Optional station or airport pickup per direction: $0–$160. Bellows Falls $0, Keene $20, Concord $100, or Manchester airport $160 each way. Other travel remains family responsibility.; Optional extra-night accommodation: $25–$125. Family campsite $25 per night; student overnight $125. Standard expedition room/board inclusion should be confirmed for the selected program.; Optional equipment rental: $5–$20. Published per-program rental examples: rubber boots $5, rain coat $10, rain pants $10, sleeping pad $10, sleeping bag $20.; 2027: 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 | Grade 11; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Grade 11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Citizenship: Academy-specific; USNA says citizenship is not required for NASS but is required for a later academy appointment; Residency: Academy-specific application eligibility; Requirement: Be a current high school junior/rising senior for the applicable summer; Requirement: Meet the chosen academy's academic, leadership, character, conduct, health and physical-participation criteria; Requirement: For USNA, provide a Social Security number to submit the seminar application; Requirement: Be able to participate safely in a structured military, academic and fitness schedule; Exclusion: USNA lists being married, pregnant or having a legal obligation to support a dependent as disqualifying for NASS; Exclusion: Seminar eligibility is not the same as eligibility for appointment to an academy | Residency: U.S. citizens may reside anywhere; Residency: Non-U.S. citizens must already live in the United States; F-1 students are explicitly eligible and other visa holders must confirm with GSTEM; Requirement: Be a current high-school junior at application time; Requirement: Demonstrate high aptitude in STEM; Requirement: Attend every day of the six-week program; Requirement: Not participate in another program simultaneously; Requirement: Be open to a mentor and research placement selected by GSTEM; Exclusion: Current sophomores and seniors are not eligible for the summer research program; Exclusion: Non-U.S. citizens living outside the United States are ineligible; Exclusion: The program is open to all genders; being a girl is not an eligibility requirement; Exclusion: Students may not miss part of the program or choose a specific mentor or research topic | Ages 6–18; Requirement: Meet the exact age range for the selected program; published 2026 programs ranged from ages 6-10 to ages 15-18; Requirement: Show genuine personal interest and excitement about attending; Requirement: Be physically ready to participate in every required aspect of the selected program; Requirement: Ensure the family understands Kroka's philosophy, handbook, outdoor living, risk, and community approach; Requirement: Complete an introductory program or demonstrate prior technical experience when an advanced expedition requires it; Requirement: Be accepted based on fit, safety, capacity, and group composition; Exclusion: Registration and deposit do not guarantee acceptance; Exclusion: Students who cannot safely complete essential physical, technical, behavioral, medical, or community components without an agreed accommodation; Exclusion: Applicants outside the selected program's age band or without a stated technical prerequisite; Exclusion: Some rites-of-passage programs use gender-specific cohorts; verify the current inclusion policy directly |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 1 week; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 6 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 | In person |
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| Housing and supervision | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | West Point, Annapolis, Colorado Springs, New York, Maryland, Colorado | New York City, New York | Marlow, New Hampshire, Program-specific expedition routes, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New York, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Lake Champlain and other program-specific destinations |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Academy-specific and selective; USNA identifies approximately 800 participants per session and rolling selection based on academic, athletic, extracurricular and fitness factors. Application materials: Personal statement or short responses | Selection: GSTEM describes admission as competitive and admits 40 students each summer. Decisions consider high-school academics, essays, STEM activities, and one recommendation; applicant count and acceptance rate are not published. Application materials: Four essays; One recommendation from a teacher, advisor, or counselor; Optional Winston Data Scholarship essay | Selection: Fit- and safety-reviewed rather than first-come alone; Kroka may decline applicants, maintain waitlists, prefer group balance, and require prerequisites for technical programs. |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-09Source 2 · checked 2026-08-21Source 3 · checked 2026-08-21Source 4 · checked 2026-08-21Source 5 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-09Source 2 · checked 2026-10-09Source 3 · checked 2026-08-21Source 4 · checked 2026-08-21Source 5 · checked 2026-08-21 | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-21Source 2 · checked 2026-08-21Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20 |
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