| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): $9,595–$12,495; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): RISD Pre-College need-based scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Limited number; U.S. citizens or permanent residents with significant financial need.; 2027: 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 | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Application fee (non-refundable): $60. Waived for scholarship applicants.; Non-refundable program deposit: $1,100; Single room supplement: $200. Only if a single room is requested and assigned.; Short-term health insurance: $259. For students without accepted US domestic insurance.; Art supplies (estimate): $800–$1,000; Personal laptop: $300–$500; RISD Pre-College need-based scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Limited number; U.S. citizens or permanent residents with significant financial need.; 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 | Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 11–12 (provider uses rising grades) |
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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 | Ages 13–17 | Ages 16–18; Requirement: Open to rising grades 11–12; Requirement: Finished 10th or 11th year of high school (or equivalent); Requirement: Born between July 31, 2008 and June 27, 2011; rising juniors who will be 16 by October 1, 2027 may still apply; Requirement: Non-native English speakers need a minimum TOEFL 93 (or 5.0), Duolingo 115 or IELTS 6.5; Requirement: Non-US citizens and permanent residents need an appropriate visa (typically B-2 or ESTA) |
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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 | Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts June 28, 2027; Ends July 30, 2027; 5 weeks (2027 cycle) |
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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 | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Little Switzerland, North Carolina | Apple Valley, MN | Providence, RI |
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| 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: Previously published application rules described submission-order review and first-come major availability, and said applicants showing the ability and desire to contribute and benefit are accepted. Confirm the applicable Summer 2027 process and major availability; application totals, acceptance rates and waitlist movement are not published. Application materials: Scholarship applicants also submit a letter of recommendation, family tax documents and an unofficial transcript |
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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 2026-10-24 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-08-22 |
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