| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Last year's cycle (2026): $3,000; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 sliding-scale Louisiana-family contribution: $200–$3,000. Suggested contribution depended on combined household income; accepted families could request more aid.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 sliding-scale Louisiana-family contribution: $200–$3,000. Suggested contribution depended on combined household income; accepted families could request more aid.; Payment plan: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Case-by-case plans were available after acceptance.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grades 6–10 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher | Up to grade 12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Residency: Louisiana and out-of-state students may apply; tuition differs by residence; Requirement: Junior Division: current grade 6, 7, or 8 in the application school year; Requirement: Senior Division: current grade 9 or 10 plus at least a B average in the prior full term and current year; Requirement: Submit Louisiana gifted-classification documents or acceptable aptitude-test/alternate qualifying evidence; Requirement: Demonstrate readiness for a seven-week residential academic, arts, and community program; Requirement: Musically Gifted applicants must complete a separate audition process; Exclusion: Applicants outside the published grade bands; Exclusion: Senior Division applicants below the B-average requirement; Exclusion: Incomplete gifted-identification, grade, testing, or teacher documentation; Exclusion: Applicants applying after all spaces are filled | Ages 13–17; Requirement: Be age 13-17 for the ZooTeen program; Requirement: Be able to support summer Zoo Camp participants in person; Requirement: Have interest in animals, environment, conservation and working with people; Requirement: Complete any application and training requirements published for the active cycle; Exclusion: Applicants age 18 or older, who use the separate Zoo Ambassador pathway; Exclusion: Animal handling, animal-care, zookeeping or direct behind-the-scenes animal-contact expectations; Exclusion: Applicants unable to attend required training or assigned camp-support shifts |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 7 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | 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 |
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| Location | Lake Charles, Louisiana | Apple Valley, Minnesota Zoo, Minnesota |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Applicants must meet gifted-identification or aptitude criteria and grade-specific requirements. Applications were reviewed until spaces filled; the program does not publish applicant counts, capacity, or an acceptance rate. Application materials: Separate audition information for the Musically Gifted track | 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. |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-21Source 2 · checked 2026-08-21Source 3 · checked 2026-08-21Source 4 · checked 2026-08-21Source 5 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-22 |
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