| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | January 31, 2027 (2027 cycle) |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | $699–$2,500 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Limited need-based scholarships: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Not for the residential portion and not for international students; separate GI Partners need-based scholarships for Boston-area rising seniors. (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Last year's cycle (2026): SPROG 2026 ticket: $0. Participants could select the USD 0 option with the published SPROG26 code.; Optional contribution: $0–$200. Voluntary contribution toward Sierra Club's costs.; Four nights of dorm lodging and bedding: $0. Provided by the program.; Program meals: $0. All meals were provided.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential fee ($699 per week; housing, three meals a day, supervision): $699–$2,097. On top of tuition; $2,097 for a three-week program.; Seat deposit ($200 one-week; $500 three-week or remote): $200–$500; Optional airport transportation (one way $50-$75, round trip $99): $50–$99; Optional linen rental for residential students: $50; Limited need-based scholarships: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Not for the residential portion and not for international students; separate GI Partners need-based scholarships for Boston-area rising seniors. (2027 cycle) | 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 |
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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 6–12 and first-year college (provider uses rising grades) | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Ages 15–25; Requirement: Be age 15–25 by August 5, 2026; Requirement: Attend the full five-day residential session; Requirement: Provide emergency, medical, dietary, accessibility, travel, and room information; Requirement: Sign the participant waiver; Requirement: Obtain a parent signature if under 18; Exclusion: Applicants younger than 15 or older than 25 for the 2026 session | Requirement: Open to rising grades 6–13; Requirement: One-week and pre-high-school programs: perform at grade level or above | 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 |
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| Session dates or duration | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts August 5, 2026; Ends August 9, 2026; 0.7 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 1–3 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts May 31, 2027 (2027 cycle) |
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| Format | In person | In person / Online | In person |
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| Housing and supervision | 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 | Little Switzerland, North Carolina | Boston, Waltham, Wellesley, Weston, MA | Cincinnati, OH |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Registration-based 2026 session; capacity and selection method were not stated | Selection: Three-week and remote programs used competitive rolling review based on academic record, curiosity, subject commitment, perspective, and experience. One-week and pre-high-school programs were capacity-based registration. Application materials: Three-week programs: online application with an essay | 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 |
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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 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-08-21Source 5 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24 |
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