| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): $5,990–$7,390; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Awarded upon acceptance; applications reviewed first-come, first-served.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| 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 | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Refundable damage deposit (2026): $150; Financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Awarded upon acceptance; applications reviewed first-come, first-served.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Eligibility | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 11–12 (provider uses rising grades) |
|---|
| 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 | Ages 13–17 | Ages 16–18; Requirement: Open to rising grades 11–12; Requirement: Has completed sophomore year of high school and is returning to high school in the fall; Requirement: A diagnosed learning difference is not required |
|---|
| 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 | Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts July 10, 2027; Ends July 31, 2027; 3 weeks (2027 cycle) |
|---|
| Format | In person | In person | In person |
|---|
| Housing and supervision | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Location | Little Switzerland, North Carolina | Apple Valley, MN | Putney, VT |
|---|
| Selection and application | Selection: Registration-based 2026 session; capacity and selection method were not stated | 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. | Selection: Admissions reviews fit for the structured program; no applicant, cohort or acceptance count is published. Financial aid is limited and first-come after acceptance. Application materials: Educational recommendations (form included in the application); Parent/guardian statement; Interview by phone or online |
|---|
| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-20Source 2 · checked 2026-08-20Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-08-22Source 4 · checked 2026-08-20 |
|---|