14 Zoology Summer Camps for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 10 min read
If you’re interested in animals and the natural world, a zoology summer camp can help you explore topics that go beyond a typical biology class. These programs introduce you to areas like wildlife conservation, animal behavior, ecology, marine science, and veterinary medicine while providing opportunities to learn in research, zoo, and field-based settings. They can also help you better understand the scientific and environmental challenges involved in studying and protecting animal populations.
Why should I do a zoology summer camp in high school?
Zoology camps allow you to investigate how animals live, interact with their environments, and are studied by scientists and conservation professionals. You might participate in wildlife observations, conservation projects, laboratory activities, animal care experiences, field research, or veterinary science workshops while learning from researchers, educators, and animal specialists. Over time, these experiences can help you develop scientific thinking skills, explore potential career paths, and deepen your understanding of biology, ecology, and environmental science.
To help with your search, below is a list of 14 zoology summer camps for high school students.
If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type | Full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) | Programs range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students demonstrating strong academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers high school students the opportunity to conduct independent research in zoology and related biological sciences under the guidance of Ph.D. mentors. Students interested in animal biology, ecology, conservation, or evolutionary science can design a customized research project aligned with their interests. Over the course of the program, participants work closely in a 1-on-1 mentorship setting to explore advanced zoological concepts and research methodologies. The program emphasizes critical thinking, scientific writing, and data analysis, culminating in a formal research paper suitable for submission to academic journals. Students also gain exposure to interdisciplinary approaches, such as combining zoology with environmental science or data analysis. This experience is ideal for students aiming to pursue biology or wildlife-related fields at the university level.
Location: Multiple locations (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico; local placement near student)
Cost/Stipend: $3,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June–August (8 weeks; flexible schedule determined with mentor)
Application Deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors or rising college freshmen | Must be at least 16 years old | Open to students across eligible regions
For students who want to spend their summer outdoors while actively contributing to environmental research, this program offers a paid internship in fisheries science. You’ll be matched with a professional mentor near your home and work on real-world projects that may involve field sampling, water-quality testing, habitat restoration, or lab-based analysis. Since placements vary, your experience might include time on boats, in laboratories, or analyzing ecological data, giving you a broad view of how aquatic science research is conducted. The program emphasizes mentorship, so you’ll also build relationships with professionals and gain insight into career pathways in environmental science. Over eight weeks, you’ll develop both technical skills and a clearer understanding of conservation challenges.
Location: Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship (stipend provided)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 22–August 7 (orientation June 6)
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: Chicago residents | Ages 16–18 | Entering grades 10–12 or freshman year of college
This program is structured as a working internship where you actively engage with the public and learn how science is communicated. Over seven weeks, you’ll develop skills in informal education by interacting with zoo visitors and designing ways to share conservation messages effectively. You’ll also collaborate with zoo staff, researchers, and animal care professionals, gaining insight into real career pathways in animal science and conservation. A key part of the experience is creating and presenting a final project focused on actionable conservation practices, which helps you build both research and communication skills.
Location: Zoological Society of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer sessions typically run between June and August | Orientation dates may vary
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students ages 14–18
If you’re looking for leadership experience rather than a traditional camp, the High School Assistant program lets you step into a teaching and mentorship role. You’ll work alongside educators, helping run zoo camps and guiding younger students through activities. This means you’re learning about animals and how to communicate science, manage groups, and support educational programming. The experience is hands-on and collaborative, giving you a sense of what it’s like to work in informal education or outreach. It’s particularly valuable if you’re interested in building leadership skills, gaining volunteer experience, or exploring careers in education, conservation, or public engagement.
Location: Mendon, MA
Cost/Stipend: $743.46 (non-member) | $669.29 (EARTH ltd member)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: July 27–31
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until spots fill
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11
If you’re curious about wildlife biology or considering a future in zoology, this five-day summer program offers a practical introduction to animal-focused careers. Hosted through EARTH Limited in partnership with Southwick's Zoo, the program explores topics such as native species, animal behavior, conservation, and the effects of climate change on wildlife. You’ll spend much of your time outdoors participating in STEAM-based activities, animal encounters, enrichment projects, and behind-the-scenes learning experiences connected to zoo operations and animal care. The curriculum is designed to help students better understand both the scientific and ethical sides of working with animals. A standout feature of the program is the included whale watch, which gives participants additional exposure to marine wildlife and conservation in the field.
Location: Asheboro, NC
Cost/Stipend: Junior: $375 (members), $455 (non-members) | Senior: $590 (members), $670 (non-members)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~22 students per session
Dates: Junior: June 6 and July 18 | Senior: May 2–3 and August 8–9
Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: Junior camps: rising grades 7–9 | Senior camps: grades 10–first-year college | Minimum B average required
This program centers on giving you a realistic glimpse into veterinary medicine, especially in a zoo setting where animals and cases can be very different from those in a typical clinic. You’ll practice hands-on skills like physical exams, suturing, CPR, and animal handling while learning how veterinarians care for non-domestic species. Much of the experience takes place at the zoo’s veterinary hospital, where you rotate through specialized activities, including imaging, anesthesia monitoring, and darting wildlife. Senior participants also engage in more advanced clinical-style experiences and interact closely with veterinary students who serve as mentors. By the end, you’ll have a clearer understanding of both the technical skills and the day-to-day realities of working in wildlife and zoo veterinary care.
7. VetCAMP
Location: North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC
Cost/Stipend: $750 (day) | $1,000 (overnight, includes housing and meals) | Third-party scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective (~80 total spots across both weeks)
Dates: July 6–10 (Week 1) | July 13–17 (Week 2)
Application Deadline: April 6
Eligibility: U.S. or U.S. Territories residents | Rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, or rising college freshmen | Must be 15 by July 1
During the program, you’ll engage with veterinary professionals and explore core topics such as animal care, clinical practices, and the day-to-day realities of working in veterinary medicine. The in-person sessions are typically more hands-on, while the virtual week offers foundational exposure to concepts and careers in the field. You’ll also gain insight into veterinary school pathways and expectations, helping you better understand what preparation looks like. The program is designed for students who are seriously considering veterinary careers and want early, guided exposure.
Location: Banner Elk, NC
Cost/Stipend: $2,100 (one week) | $3,600 (two weeks) | Need-based financial aid available upon request
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Session 1: June 7–13 | Session 2: June 14–20
Application Deadline: May 10
Eligibility: Students entering grades 11–12 | Ages 15–17 | Must have completed at least one high school biology course | Session 2 requires prior participation or equivalent experience
Here, you’ll explore ecology and conservation through activities like animal tracking, plant and bird identification, and field research in protected natural areas. Time at the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center introduces you to veterinary practices and animal care, giving you exposure to real clinical and rehabilitation work. In the second session, the experience becomes more advanced, with deeper involvement in wildlife studies and hands-on clinical learning alongside mentors. The program is particularly valuable if you’re considering wildlife biology, ecology, or pre-veterinary studies and want early, practical exposure to these fields. By participating, you gain both scientific skills and a clearer understanding of career pathways connected to environmental and animal sciences.
Location: UGA Center for Continuing Education, Athens, GA
Cost/Stipend: $530
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: July 5–9
Application Deadline: Enrollment begins on December 1
Eligibility: Students ages 12–15 | No prior experience required
This camp immerses you in the study of vertebrate animals through both lab work and field experiences. You’ll investigate the five major vertebrate classes: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, while comparing their anatomy and physiology to understand evolutionary relationships. A significant portion of your time is spent in a professional lab setting, where you conduct dissections and learn proper scientific techniques and safety protocols. Outside the lab, you’ll collaborate in small groups on a conservation-focused research project centered on an animal at a local zoo, culminating in a final presentation delivered on-site. By the end of the week, you’ll have built both technical lab skills and confidence in communicating scientific ideas.
Location: Hershey, PA
Cost/Stipend: $470 (pass holders) | $490 (regular rate)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: ZooCrew I: June 8–12; June 22–26; July 13–17 | ZooCrew II: August 10–14; August 17–21
Application Deadline: Registration remains open until sessions fill
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12 | ZooCrew II requires prior completion of ZooCrew I
If you’re curious about what it’s like to work in a zoo, this program gives you a close-up look at both animal care and conservation education. You’ll spend your days exploring topics like animal anatomy, handling, enrichment design, and exhibit planning while also observing how the zoo operates day to day. Activities range from hands-on projects and presentations to specialized sessions such as veterinary insights, falconry, and conservation initiatives. In the second level, the experience builds toward deeper engagement with animal encounters, behavioral studies, and career preparation, including resume and interview discussions.
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Cost/Stipend: $157.50 (members) | $175 (non-members)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: Week 1: June 1–5 | Week 2: July 27–31 (one-day sessions within each week)
Application Deadline: Registration remains open until sessions fill
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12
You’ll explore different sides of zoo science day by day in this flexible camp, where each session focuses on a specific theme, such as mammals, birds, reptiles, or veterinary care. Rather than following a single track, you can choose individual days based on your interests, making it easy to tailor your experience. Behind-the-scenes access is a major highlight, where you’ll interact with zoo staff, visit animal care spaces, and learn how feeding, training, and medical care are managed. Some sessions emphasize animal behavior and outreach, while others introduce you to zoo nutrition or hospital operations. The camp is particularly useful for students seeking an introductory exposure to zoo careers and wildlife education in a shorter format.
Location: Asheboro, NC
Cost/Stipend: $405 (members) | $450 (non-members)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective (16 students per session)
Dates: June 6–7 (Senior camp) | October 10–11 (Junior camp)
Application Deadline: Registration remains open until sessions are filled
Eligibility: Ages 12–14 (Junior camp) and 15–18 (Senior camp)
In this program, you’ll take part in hands-on activities modeled after fieldwork, learning techniques like camera trapping, radio telemetry, and dip netting alongside zoo scientists. The experience allows you to explore the zoo after dark, conduct research-style exercises, and even sleep overnight in tents while hearing animals nearby. Throughout the program, you’ll gain exposure to conservation projects managed by the zoo and better understand how scientists study animal behavior in naturalistic settings. The curriculum is tailored by age group, ensuring the content feels appropriately challenging and engaging. This is a strong fit if you’re considering a future in wildlife biology, conservation, or environmental science and want an early look at what that work actually involves.
Location: Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: $6969 (commuter) | $7,801 (residential) | Need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective (typical class size ~18–20 students)
Dates: July 19–August 7
Application Deadline: June 8
Eligibility: Grades 7–11 | Must meet CTY identification requirements (test-based eligibility)
If you’re interested in how animal bodies function and evolve, this course gives you a deep, lab-focused introduction to zoology. You’ll explore topics like comparative anatomy, genetics, evolution, and animal physiology while working through dissections of species ranging from fish to mammals. The course emphasizes hands-on learning, like maintaining lab notebooks, analyzing data, and developing research questions, so you’re actively practicing scientific thinking rather than just learning theory. You’ll also examine broader themes like animal behavior, environmental adaptation, and the human impact on ecosystems. Discussions and collaborative work with other advanced students add another layer, pushing you to think critically and communicate scientific ideas clearly. This is a strong fit if you enjoy biology and want a more rigorous, college-style academic experience in a structured summer setting.
Location: UGA Center for Continuing Education, Athens, GA
Cost/Stipend: $530
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 7–11
Application Deadline: Enrollment begins on December 1
Eligibility: Students ages 12–15 | No prior experience required
This short, hands-on camp is built for younger students who want to explore animal biology through a very specific lens: invertebrates. Over the course of a week, you’ll examine organisms like insects, arachnids, mollusks, and crustaceans while learning how their structures and systems compare across species. The program leans heavily on lab work, including dissections that help you understand anatomy and physiology in a tangible way. Alongside technical skills, you’ll start connecting these observations to broader ideas, such as evolution and biodiversity. The camp also introduces possible career paths, offering a glimpse into fields such as zoology, veterinary science, and wildlife biology. It’s a good entry point if you want a structured, approachable introduction to life sciences.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.