| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Last year's cycle (2026): $4,860; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Last year's cycle (2026): Scholarships: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Apply before registering and paying any fees.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Last year's cycle (2026): Summer 2026 nonrefundable registration deposit: $200. Part of the program cost.; Scholarships: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Apply before registering and paying any fees.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: Hourly pay for Fellows: $17; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grades 9–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Grade 12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Ages 14–18; Requirement: Open to grades 9–12 | Ages 13–17 | Residency: Cook County, Illinois; Requirement: Open to grade 12; Requirement: Graduating high school senior (the internship takes place the summer after senior year) |
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| Session dates or duration | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 15, 2026; Ends June 26, 2026; 2 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 6 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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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 | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Salt Lake City, UT | Apple Valley, MN | Chicago, IL |
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| Selection and application | Selection: The 2026 cohort reached capacity and accepted waitlist interest. Scholarships were limited and considered merit and need. Current cohort size, applicant count, acceptance rate, selection rubric, and waitlist movement are not published. | 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: Eligibility and hiring depend on county, age, graduation status, funded workforce criteria, application quality, placement capacity, office fit, and employment requirements. Cook County cited approximately 50 placements; no current overall acceptance rate is published. |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-08-22 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20Source 4 · checked 2026-08-20Source 5 · checked 2026-08-20 |
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