| Application deadline | March 1, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based scholarship: Up to $40. Available but not guaranteed; application process and coverage level were not published.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 accepted-participant registration and materials fee: $40. Charged only if accepted.; Need-based scholarship: Up to $40. Available but not guaranteed; application process and coverage level were not published.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | 2027 application fee: $25. Nonrefundable.; 2027 Great Debate deposit: $150. Nonrefundable deposit after acceptance. (2027 cycle) |
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| Stipend or pay | Catalog terms: Weekly salary: $500; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 10–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Grade 9; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Citizenship: U.S. citizen; Residency: Enrolled at an Illinois high school; Requirement: Senior in 2027–28 or 2027 graduate; proof of insurance | Residency: Local high-school student able to commute to Baltimore; exact radius not published; Requirement: Successfully complete ninth grade before the summer program; Requirement: Demonstrate environmental awareness and strong interest in marine biology, environmental science or related fields; Requirement: Enjoy interacting with and assisting guests of all ages; Requirement: Attend orientation, all training and the complete first shift week; Requirement: Complete at least 10 scheduled four-hour shifts across five weeks without stacking; Exclusion: Applicants unable to commute to mandatory in-person interviews, training or shifts; Exclusion: Applicants seeking routine direct animal-care or animal-handling work; Exclusion: Applicants unable to complete the full summer commitment | Residency: Participating cities and surrounding areas; Requirement: GPA of at least 3.0 or 85 and a college-bound curriculum; Requirement: Spring regional training applies to specified four-day programmes |
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| Session dates or duration | Starts July 12, 2027; Ends August 6, 2027; 4 weeks (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts May 17, 2026; Ends August 9, 2026; 6–12 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | Unconfirmed — check official site | In person | In person |
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| Housing and supervision | Unconfirmed — check official site | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Unconfirmed — check official site | Baltimore, National Aquarium main campus; local high-school student program | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Selection and application | Unconfirmed — check official site | Selection: Qualified applicants receive required peer-and-staff interviews, with some placed on a waitlist. The Aquarium does not publish application totals, cohort size or acceptance rate. Application materials: In-person interview on an assigned date | Selection: Confirm the current programme’s selection, capacity and operative participation conditions. |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-10 | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-22 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-12Source 2 · checked 2026-08-22Source 3 · checked 2026-08-22Source 4 · checked 2026-08-20 |
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