15 Zoology Summer Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 6 hours ago
- 12 min read
If you’re interested in animals, wildlife, and conservation, a zoology summer program can help you explore these topics beyond what you learn in a typical biology class. These opportunities introduce you to areas such as animal behavior, ecology, veterinary medicine, wildlife rehabilitation, conservation science, and marine biology while helping you develop observation, research, and analytical skills. They also provide exposure to the diverse academic and career paths available in animal and environmental sciences.
Why should I do a zoology summer program in high school?
Zoology programs allow you to study animals and ecosystems through activities that may not be available in a traditional classroom setting. Depending on the program, you might conduct field observations, assist with conservation projects, learn about veterinary medicine, participate in laboratory investigations, study animal anatomy, or explore wildlife management and rehabilitation practices. These experiences can help you deepen your understanding of biological sciences, discover areas of interest within zoology, and gain insight into careers focused on animals, conservation, and environmental research.
With that, here are 15 zoology summer programs for high school students!
If you’re looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These programs span hands-on zoo internships (Smithsonian National Zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo, Minnesota Zoo), veterinary-focused experiences (VSEP, VetCAMP, Advanced Veterinary Academy), and field-based ecology programs (Lees-McRae College, UNC Asheville's Wildlife Wonders).
Several programs are fully funded with stipends, including the Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program ($3,000), the Malott Family Lincoln Park Zoo Internship, and the Smithsonian National Zoo internships, while others charge fees ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
Wildlife rehabilitation experiences, including the North Carolina Zoo's Junior Internship and Lees-McRae College's program, focus specifically on caring for injured or orphaned native wildlife rather than general zoo operations.
Program lengths vary from short one-week academies (UGA Vertebrates Summer Academy, UNC Asheville's Wildlife Wonders) to extended internships lasting six to ten weeks (Hutton Program, Smithsonian internships, Malott Family Zoo Internship).
Most application deadlines fall between January and May, so students should research programs and prepare applications during the fall or winter of the prior school year.
Location: Primarily in Washington, D.C., though some departments may offer virtual or hybrid options.
Cost: None. Many internships offer stipends, but funding and amounts vary by department.
Acceptance Rate: Competitive; no official acceptance rate is publicly available
Program Dates: Varies by department, though most internships run for about 8 to 10 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Varies each year and by department
Eligibility: Open to high school students
The Smithsonian National Zoo internships introduce you to animal care, conservation science, veterinary work, and wildlife research inside one of the country’s largest zoos and conservation systems. Depending on the placement, you might assist with animal nutrition, behavioral observation, GIS-based conservation projects, or research connected to endangered species and wildlife health. Some internships also involve working with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, where conservation science and species recovery projects are a major part of the work. Since opportunities exist across Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Hawaii, the environments and species exposure vary widely between placements. The program also includes virtual and hybrid options for some departments.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program type (full financial aid available)
Dates: Varies by cohort: Summer, Fall, Winter, or Spring | Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Based on your locality (Hutton aims to match students within a 45-minute commute of your home)
Cost: Fully funded, $3,000 is provided
Acceptance rate: Highly Selective
Program Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: January
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 16 years old and who live in the United States, Mexico, or Canada are eligible to apply.
The Hutton Program places you with a fisheries scientist or aquatic biologist for an eight-week internship focused on freshwater ecosystems and fisheries science. Depending on your placement, you might work in rivers, hatcheries, lakes, laboratories, boats, or conservation offices while helping with fish population studies and aquatic habitat projects. Interns often assist with electrofishing, specimen collection, fish identification, water sampling, and ecological field surveys tied to conservation and fisheries management. Throughout the internship, you also learn how fisheries scientists collect field data, monitor aquatic species, and study environmental changes affecting fish populations. The program concludes with a funded trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit at the University of Arkansas.
Location: The Malott Family Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois
Cost: No cost; a stipend will be provided.
Acceptance rate: Highly Competitive
Program Dates: June 22 - August 7
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: High school students residing in Chicago and entering grades 10-12, aged 15-18, can apply.
The Malott Family Zoo Internship Program at the Lincoln Park Zoo offers Chicago high school students a seven-week paid opportunity to gain hands-on experience in animal science, conservation, and informal education. As an intern, you will work within the zoo environment to help educate visitors about animals and conservation issues. The program focuses on developing communication skills, especially learning how to share conservation messages with zoo guests in engaging and accessible ways. You will also design and complete a culminating project that reflects your learning throughout the internship. Alongside education-focused work, you will interact with researchers and animal care staff at the zoo, gaining insight into careers in animal science, wildlife conservation, and related fields.
Location: Apple Valley, Minnesota
Cost: None. A stipend might be provided
Acceptance rate: Competitive
Program Dates: Varies
Application Deadline: Depends on the position you’re applying for.
Eligibility: The zoo offers internships throughout the year, and eligibility varies by role.
The Minnesota Zoo internships introduce you to animal care, marine biology, wildlife conservation, and zoo operations through paid placements across different departments. During the internship, you work alongside zookeepers, veterinary technicians, zoologists, and interpretive naturalists while learning how zoos manage animal welfare and conservation programming. Depending on the role, your responsibilities may include supporting educational activities, assisting with animal care routines, or assisting with projects related to marine species and conservation initiatives. Since internships are offered throughout the year, the specific responsibilities and species exposure vary depending on the position you apply for.
Location: Gretna, Nebraska
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate: Highly competitive
Program Dates: Flexible scheduling available
Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Must be at least 16 years old and enrolled in high school or college
The Wildlife Encounters internship offers a range of opportunities focused on animal husbandry, wildlife care, and managed education programs. As an intern, you will participate in daily animal care tasks, including preparing diets, maintaining habitats, and creating enrichment activities to support animal well-being. In addition to hands-on animal work, you will also engage with public education programs, helping to communicate wildlife conservation messages to visitors. The internship is flexible, allowing you to explore areas that align with your interests and career goals in wildlife science and conservation. Overall, you will develop professional skills, including animal behavior observation, public speaking, and curriculum development, while gaining practical experience in both animal care and wildlife education.
Location: UT College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN
Cost: No cost
Acceptance rate: Competitive
Dates: June 9 – July 11
Application Deadline: January 30
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 | Must be a legal resident of Tennessee and enrolled in a Tennessee high school or homeschooling program | Must be 16 years old
VSEP introduces you to veterinary medicine through a combination of clinical shadowing and university-based learning across six weeks. For most of the program, you work alongside veterinarians at a local veterinary practice where you observe patient care, treatment procedures, examinations, and daily clinic operations involving different animal species. The final week takes place at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, where you attend lectures, participate in laboratory activities, and rotate through clinical departments connected to animal health and veterinary science. The structure gives you exposure to both private veterinary practice and university-level veterinary education in the same program.
Location: North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro, North Carolina
Cost: No cost
Acceptance rate: Competitive
Program Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: April 5
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors between 16 and 18 can apply. Look through the internship requirements for further details.
This wildlife rehabilitation internship focuses on caring for injured, sick, and orphaned native wildlife inside the North Carolina Zoo’s rehabilitation center. You assist with feeding, enclosure cleaning, habitat maintenance, husbandry routines, admissions, and record-keeping while working around animals undergoing rehabilitation before release into the wild. Interns may also assist with rescue work, facility operations, and veterinary procedures, including radiographs, medication support, and treatment preparation when appropriate. Because the work takes place in an active rehabilitation facility, much of the internship focuses on animal recovery and wildlife care rather than zoo exhibition management. The schedule also includes training sessions and observational learning tied to rehabilitation practices and conservation-focused animal care.
Location: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Day Campers $750/week | Overnight Campers: $750/week and an additional $250
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Week 1: July 6–10 | Week 2: July 13–17
Application Deadline: April 6
Eligibility: Must be a U.S or U.S Territories Resident | Must be 15 years or older | Rising high school sophomore, junior, or senior
VetCAMP introduces you to veterinary medicine and animal science through hands-on activities at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine. During the week, you tour veterinary facilities, learn how animal clinics operate, and work around animals, including horses, pigs, sheep, and small companion animals at the university’s Animal Education Units. The schedule also includes suturing exercises, dissection labs, and demonstrations connected to anatomy, diagnostics, and veterinary procedures. Much of the program focuses on understanding how veterinarians diagnose illnesses, manage treatment plans, and care for different species across agricultural and clinical settings. You also learn more about veterinary career pathways and animal-science-related majors offered at NC State.
Location: UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, Georgia
Cost: $530
Acceptance rate: Highly competitive
Program Dates: July 5 – 9
Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Ages 12-15
This one-week academy introduces you to vertebrate zoology through anatomy labs, dissections, and comparative physiology activities focused on different animal groups. You study how vertebrates evolved, how their body systems differ across species, and how animals adapt to different environments through structural and physiological changes. The program also explores biodiversity, conservation issues, animal behavior, and environmental pressures affecting vertebrate populations today. Most sessions are hands-on, so you spend time collecting observations, working through laboratory activities, and interpreting scientific findings rather than just listening to lectures. Alongside dissections and lab work, you also practice the scientific methods of data collection and analysis used in zoological research.
Location: Johns Hopkins University campus
Cost: Contact the program for pricing
Acceptance rate: Selective
Program Dates: Summer session (specific dates vary)
Eligibility: Grades 7-11, CTY qualification required
Deadline: May 11 and June 8
This CTY course introduces you to zoology through comparative anatomy, physiology, genetics, heredity, and animal behavior across an intensive summer format. Much of the program revolves around laboratory work and dissections using specimens like fish and small mammals to understand how animal systems vary across species. The course also explores evolution, taxonomy, environmental adaptation, and conservation challenges affecting wildlife populations and ecosystems today. Instead of relying mainly on textbook learning, the sessions are structured around observation, experimentation, and scientific investigation. You also spend time developing research questions, collecting data, and analyzing findings through activities tied closely to the scientific method.
Location: Various international locations, including Colorado, Greece, Thailand, and the Azores
Cost: Varies by program and location
Acceptance Rate: Not publicly available
Program Dates: Dates vary by program and destination
Application Deadline: Rolling or program-specific deadlines
Eligibility: Open to middle and high school students, typically grades 6 through 12
These international conservation programs combine wildlife service work with environmental education across locations, including Thailand, Greece, Colorado, and the Azores. Depending on the destination, you may support organizations working on marine conservation, habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring, ecosystem protection, or rehabilitation projects focused on local species and environments. Alongside the fieldwork, the program includes discussions and educational sessions focused on biodiversity, environmental change, and the impact of human activity on wildlife populations globally. Since each location partners with different conservation groups, the ecosystems, species exposure, and conservation priorities vary significantly between programs.
Location: Lees-McRae College, Banner Elk, NC
Cost: One Week: $1,900 | Two Weeks: $3,400
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: June 7–13 | June 14-20
Application Deadline: May 10
Eligibility: Students entering 11th or 12th grade
This wildlife science program takes place in the mountains of western North Carolina and focuses on ecology, wildlife rehabilitation, and field-based animal science. Throughout the program, you study ecosystems, wildlife populations, and conservation practices through activities held at the Elk Valley Preserve and Field Station. You also spend time at the May Wildlife Rehabilitation Center learning about wildlife care, rehabilitation procedures, and outdoor patient management involving injured native animals. The structure combines classroom sessions with fieldwork, ecological observation, and conservation-focused activities tied to real environments rather than simulated labs. Much of the experience revolves around understanding how wildlife ecology, rehabilitation, and habitat conservation connect in practice.
Location: University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Cost: $400
Acceptance rate: Highly competitive
Dates: June 8–12
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors (16 + years) | Must have spent or be spending time job-shadowing a veterinarian | A minimum GPA of 2.7
This four-day veterinary academy introduces you to animal science and veterinary medicine through lectures, clinical observation, and hands-on activities at the University of Missouri. During the program, you attend sessions alongside veterinary students while exploring topics like anatomy, toxicology, epidemiology, radiology, and animal diagnostics. You also observe clinical rounds, shadow veterinarians, and gain exposure to real medical cases handled within the university’s veterinary system. Some sessions include opportunities to observe surgical environments and understand how veterinary teams manage complex procedures and patient care.
Location: UNC Asheville, Asheville, North Carolina
Cost: $1,590 (includes lodging, meals, course materials, activities, and excursions)
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Program Dates: June 14–19
Application Deadline: Enrollment is open until all spaces are filled; a $500 deposit is due at registration, and the remaining balance is due by May 1
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
This one‑week residential program immerses you in Appalachian zoology and wildlife biology through a mix of lab work, workshops, and intensive field trips in the southern Appalachian Mountains. You develop skills in species identification and field biology while searching for salamanders at a private nature reserve, snorkeling in mountain streams, and dip‑netting in ponds to study local vertebrates and invertebrates up close. Throughout the week, you use professional zoological tools, including aquatic and insect nets, binoculars, dissecting microscopes, and compound microscopes, while exploring topics like animal anatomy, local biodiversity, and research techniques that prepare you for future study in biology, zoology, or environmental science.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best zoology summer programs for high school students?
Strong options depend on a student's interests. Students drawn to hands-on animal care might consider the Smithsonian National Zoo internships or Minnesota Zoo internships, those interested in veterinary medicine might look at VSEP or VetCAMP, and those interested in field ecology might consider UNC Asheville's Wildlife Wonders or Lees-McRae College's program.
Are there free zoology summer programs for high schoolers?
Yes, several programs are free or fully funded, including the Smithsonian National Zoo internships, the Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program (which provides $3,000), the Malott Family Lincoln Park Zoo Internship (paid), Minnesota Zoo internships, the Wildlife Encounters Internship Program, and VSEP at the University of Tennessee.
Which zoology programs focus specifically on wildlife rehabilitation?
The North Carolina Zoo's Junior Internship Position at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and Lees-McRae College's Wildlife Science Summer Programs both center on caring for injured, sick, or orphaned native wildlife, including feeding, habitat maintenance, and treatment support.
Are there zoology programs that lead toward veterinary medicine specifically?
Yes, the University of Tennessee's Veterinary Summer Experience Program, NC State's VetCAMP, and the University of Missouri's Advanced Veterinary Academy all focus specifically on veterinary medicine through clinical shadowing, dissection labs, and exposure to diagnostics and treatment.
Do any zoology summer programs take place outside the United States?
Yes, The Road Less Traveled Animal Service Summer Programs operates in several international locations, including Thailand, Greece, Colorado, and the Azores, combining wildlife service work with environmental education.
When should I apply to zoology summer programs for high school students?
Deadlines vary widely. Early deadlines include the Hutton Program (January) and VSEP (January 30), while others like the North Carolina Zoo internship (April 5) and Johns Hopkins CTY Zoology Program (May 11 or June 8) fall later in the spring.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. 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.