| Application deadline | November 11, 2026 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | January 31, 2027 (2027 cycle) |
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| Cost | Catalog terms: $13,495; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Free attendance; check separate expenses (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Catalog terms: Tuition financial awards: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Verified using the last year's income.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Need-based travel assistance: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Funds are limited. (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Catalog terms: International fee for students not from the United States: $250. Helps cover international insurance.; Application fee (lower when submitted earlier): $50–$100. A fee waiver can be requested inside the application.; Non-refundable deposit (first half of the total program fee): Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. The remaining fee is refundable up to one month before the program starts.; Tuition financial awards: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Verified using the last year's income.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Need-based travel assistance: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Funds are limited. (2027 cycle) | 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 |
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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 9–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Ages 14–18; Requirement: Open to grades 9–12 | Ages 15–16; Requirement: For 2027, birthday between August 26, 2010 and June 26, 2012 (at least 15 when the session starts and not yet 17 by its end); Requirement: Available for the whole four-week in-person session; Requirement: Able to speak English; Requirement: International campers need a valid passport and visa (if applicable) | 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 |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts June 26, 2027; Ends August 26, 2027; 4 weeks (2027 cycle) | Starts May 31, 2027 (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 | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Ann Arbor, MI | Rhinebeck, NY | Cincinnati, OH |
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| Selection and application | Selection: LaunchX reports approximately a 30% acceptance rate for flagship programs; current cohort-specific applicant counts and criteria are not fully published. Application materials: Interview for selected applicants | Selection: Regional/global selection committees review applications for cohort fit and invite some applicants to interview. LAJF seeks diverse strengths, backgrounds, interests, and commitment to change, but does not publish current applicant totals, cohort size, or acceptance rate. Application materials: Interview with your regional selection committee (if selected for the interview phase) | 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 |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-10-24Source 5 · checked 2026-10-24Source 6 · checked 2026-10-24Source 7 · checked 2026-10-09Source 8 · checked 2026-10-09Source 9 · checked 2026-10-09 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-12Source 4 · checked 2026-08-20Source 5 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24 |
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