| Application deadline | January 31, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | $3,445–$7,195 (2027 cycle) | Catalog terms: Free attendance; check separate expenses; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Sibling discount (5% of tuition): Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Discounts cannot be combined.; Educator-parent discount (10% of tuition): Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Requires proof of full-time employment as a primary or secondary educator.; Scholarships through partner organizations: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Catalog terms: Non-refundable program fee, due upon acceptance: $60. Covers all materials, a camp T-shirt to keep and the loan of a Zoo uniform shirt.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Application fee: $95. Non-refundable.; Enrollment deposit: $700; Sibling discount (5% of tuition): Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Discounts cannot be combined.; Educator-parent discount (10% of tuition): Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Requires proof of full-time employment as a primary or secondary educator.; Scholarships through partner organizations: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site (2027 cycle) | Catalog terms: Key and swipe-card deposit (Rutgers engineering program): $65. Check returned uncashed at the end of the program.; 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 | Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 7–12 and first-year college (provider uses rising grades) | Grade 12 (provider uses rising grades) |
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| Additional eligibility | Ages 13–17; Requirement: Must be between 13 and 17 years old on May 1, 2027; Requirement: First- and second-year ZooTeens commit to at least 100 hours (including one 40-hour week of camp); third-year and returning ZooTeens commit to at least 70 hours; Requirement: Must be able to receive program information by email and keep an online ZooTeen profile to log service hours | Requirement: Open to rising grades 7–13; Requirement: High school trips: entering 9th grade through graduating 12th grade; Requirement: Middle school trip: entering 7th grade through graduating 8th grade | Residency: New Jersey residents; Requirement: Open to rising grade 12; Requirement: Attend a public or private high school or be home-schooled, and have completed junior year before the program |
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| Session dates or duration | Starts May 31, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Catalog terms: 1–3 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 3–4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | In person | 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 | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Cincinnati, OH | Program-specific international and U.S. territory itineraries; current departures use Houston, New York, Miami or self-booked flights | Madison, Piscataway, NJ |
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| Selection and application | Selection: The Zoo says the program is very popular and cannot accept all applicants; it publishes no applicant count, cohort size, or acceptance rate. Application materials: Online application (separate forms for new and returning ZooTeens) with short essay questions; One in-person group interview | 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. | Selection: Selection occurs first within the high school and then at the host. Recent host sources report approximately 20%-25% admission among school nominees, with exact cohort size driven by facilities and funding. Application materials: Sciences program: two hand-signed teacher recommendations, one from a science teacher and one from a math teacher; Sciences program: two single-page essays; Engineering & Technology program: several application essays |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-10-24Source 5 · checked 2026-08-20Source 6 · checked 2026-08-20Source 7 · checked 2026-08-20 |
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