| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | January 31, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Last year's cycle (2026): $7,113; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based tuition scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Limited and competitive; admitted students apply separately with essay responses.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Full scholarship for campers unable to pay: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Last year's cycle (2026): Pre-college fee: $780; Optional housing per session: $2,542; Application fee: $50. Non-refundable; waived for applications submitted before the early-bird deadline.; Health insurance fee per session (international students only): $225; Need-based tuition scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Limited and competitive; admitted students apply separately with essay responses.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | 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 | Last year's cycle (2026): Full scholarship for campers unable to pay: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site; Sliding-scale camper contribution (partial scholarship): $200–$500. An other amount can also be chosen.; Registration fee kept on a withdrawal at least 10 days before the start: $10; 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 | Grades 10–12 when applying; check the provider's rules for graduating seniors | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 10–12 when applying; Requirement: Good academic standing with at least a 3.0 GPA; Requirement: Minimum TOEFL 90, IELTS 7.0 or Duolingo 115 when English is not the main language of instruction at the student's high school; Requirement: International students in on-campus classes need an F-1 visa and at least 6 credits | 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 | Ages 14–18; Requirement: Able to attend both weeks of the two-week camp |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 5–8 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts May 31, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts July 13, 2026; Ends July 24, 2026; 2 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | In person / Online | 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 | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Washington, DC | Cincinnati, OH | Providence, RI |
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| Selection and application | Application materials: 300- to 500-word personal statement; One letter of recommendation | 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: The course has limited shop capacity and the 2026 listing sold out. The application asks about motivation and making experience, but no acceptance rate or formal scoring rubric is published. Application materials: Personal statement: short answers (2-4 sentences each) to the written prompts; Statement of financial need (scholarship applicants) |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-10-09Source 5 · checked 2026-10-09 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-08-21 |
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