For future pre-vet and animal science students
Pre-Vet and Animal Science Opportunities for High School Students
22 volunteer programs, research programs, competitions, and clubs for high school students interested in pre-vet and animal science: 0 national or online, and 22 local programs in New York City, the Bay Area, and Houston.
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- Opportunities
- 22
- Not paused or waitlisted
- 22
- application availability varies
- Minimum age under 16
- 15
- excludes paused and waitlisted
- Summer only
- 6
- others run longer or do not say
- ASPCA Adoption Center Youth Volunteers (ages 16-17)
Volunteering · New York, NY
- Who can join
- Ages 16 to 17
- When to apply
- Not posted
- BARC Animal Shelter & Adoptions (City of Houston) Volunteer Program (ages 13+)
Volunteering · Houston, TX
- Who can join
- 13 and up
- When to apply
- Year-round
- Bideawee Summer Teen Group
Volunteering · Westhampton, NY
- Who can join
- Ages 13 to 17
- When to apply
- Summer
- Bideawee Teen Volunteers
Volunteering · New York, NY
- Who can join
- Ages 13 to 17
- When to apply
- Not posted
- East Bay SPCA Shelter Scouts: Animal Welfare Advocates
Volunteering · Oakland, CA
- Who can join
- Ages 12 to 17
- When to apply
- Year-round
- East Bay SPCA Shelter Scouts: Rover Recruits
Volunteering · Oakland, CA
- Who can join
- Ages 12 to 17
- When to apply
- Year-round
- East Bay SPCA Youth Volunteer (ages 16-17)
Volunteering · Oakland, CA
- Who can join
- Ages 16 to 17
- When to apply
- Year-round
- Happy Hollow Park & Zoo ZooTeen
Volunteering · San Jose, CA
- Who can join
- Ages 14 to 17
- When to apply
- Applications accepted year-round; files reviewed mid-summer. 2027 season applicants contacted end of summer 2027. (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability)
- Houston Humane Society Volunteer Program (youth volunteers)
Volunteering · Houston, TX
- Who can join
- 10 and up
- When to apply
- Year-round
- Houston Zoo First Year Zoo Crew Explorers
Volunteering · Houston, TX
- Who can join
- Ages 13 to 17
- When to apply
- Applications for Summer 2026 are closed; applicants notified by April 28 (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability)
- Humane Society Silicon Valley Student Opportunities
Volunteering · Milpitas, CA
- Who can join
- Not posted
- When to apply
- Year-round
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Teen Conservation Leaders
Volunteering · Monterey, CA
- Who can join
- 14 and up
- When to apply
- Applications closed for 2026; interviews were in March (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability)
- Moody Gardens Society for the Advancement of Volunteer Youth (SAVY)
Volunteering · Galveston, TX
- Who can join
- Ages 13 to 17
- When to apply
- Not posted
- North Shore Animal League America VolunTEEN Program
Volunteering · Port Washington, NY
- Who can join
- Ages 16 to 17
- When to apply
- Recruits twice a year for Fall/Winter (September-January) and Spring/Summer (April-August) (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability)
- Oakland Zoo Teen Summer Internships
Internship · Oakland, CA
- Who can join
- Grades 11 to 12
- When to apply
- Applications closed for Summer 2026; info meetings were held in March (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability)
- Oakland Zoo Teen Wild Guides
Volunteering · Oakland, CA
- Who can join
- 13 and up
- When to apply
- Application open year-round; Fall 2026 applications were due September 1 (past window; confirm next cycle)
- Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA Junior Volunteers
Volunteering · Burlingame, CA
- Who can join
- Ages 13 to 17
- When to apply
- Year-round
- San Francisco Zoo & Gardens ARC Junior Zoologist
Volunteering · San Francisco, CA
- Who can join
- Ages 15 to 17
- When to apply
- Not posted
- San Francisco Zoo & Gardens ARC Nature Trail Volunteer
Volunteering · San Francisco, CA
- Who can join
- Ages 12 to 14
- When to apply
- Applications for 2027 open in March (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability)
- The Marine Mammal Center Youth Crew
Volunteering · Sausalito, CA
- Who can join
- Not posted
- When to apply
- Online application is available for two months (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability)
- Wildlife Conservation Society and Fordham University Project TRUE
Research · Bronx, NY
- Who can join
- Grades 10 to 11
- When to apply
- Summer
- Wildlife Conservation Society Discovery Guide Volunteer Program
Volunteering · Bronx, NY
- Who can join
- Ages 14 to 22
- When to apply
- Applications for the next cycle open in late December for Spring 2027; an interest form is available now (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability)
| Opportunity | Where | Who can join | Commitment | When to apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASPCA Adoption Center Youth Volunteers (ages 16-17)Volunteering · Animal shelter or rescue | New York, NY | Ages 16 to 17 | Not posted | Not posted |
| BARC Animal Shelter & Adoptions (City of Houston) Volunteer Program (ages 13+)Volunteering · Animal shelter or rescue | Houston, TX | 13 and up | No minimum hours; volunteers become inactive without at least one shift every three months | Year-round |
| Bideawee Summer Teen GroupVolunteering · Animal shelter or rescue | Westhampton, NY | Ages 13 to 17 | Select Fridays in summer for a couple of hours | Summer |
| Bideawee Teen VolunteersVolunteering · Animal shelter or rescue | New York, NY | Ages 13 to 17 | Not posted | Not posted |
| East Bay SPCA Shelter Scouts: Animal Welfare AdvocatesVolunteering · Animal shelter or rescue | Oakland, CA | Ages 12 to 17 | 4-week sessions, Saturdays or Sundays, 2 hours per week | Year-round |
| East Bay SPCA Shelter Scouts: Rover RecruitsVolunteering · Animal shelter or rescue | Oakland, CA | Ages 12 to 17 | 3-week sessions, Saturdays or Sundays, 2 hours per week | Year-round |
| East Bay SPCA Youth Volunteer (ages 16-17)Volunteering · Animal shelter or rescue | Oakland, CA | Ages 16 to 17 | Minimum 6 months / 50 hours of service | Year-round |
| Happy Hollow Park & Zoo ZooTeenVolunteering · Zoo or aquarium | San Jose, CA | Ages 14 to 17 | Minimum 48 hours a year or 4 hours per month | Applications accepted year-round; files reviewed mid-summer. 2027 season applicants contacted end of summer 2027. (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability) |
| Houston Humane Society Volunteer Program (youth volunteers)Volunteering · Animal shelter or rescue | Houston, TX | 10 and up | Recommended 4 hours a month | Year-round |
| Houston Zoo First Year Zoo Crew ExplorersVolunteering · Zoo or aquarium | Houston, TX | Ages 13 to 17 | Four-week session, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (2026 sessions ran June 1 - August 7) | Applications for Summer 2026 are closed; applicants notified by April 28 (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability) |
| Humane Society Silicon Valley Student OpportunitiesVolunteering · Animal shelter or rescue | Milpitas, CA | Not posted | Not posted | Year-round |
| Monterey Bay Aquarium Teen Conservation LeadersVolunteering · Zoo or aquarium | Monterey, CA | 14 and up | Volunteer 3 to 4 days per week; summer program June 8 to August 2, 2026 with mandatory training | Applications closed for 2026; interviews were in March (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability) |
| Moody Gardens Society for the Advancement of Volunteer Youth (SAVY)Volunteering · Zoo or aquarium | Galveston, TX | Ages 13 to 17 | Not posted | Not posted |
| North Shore Animal League America VolunTEEN ProgramVolunteering · Animal shelter or rescue | Port Washington, NY | Ages 16 to 17 | Minimum of 2-4 hours a week for at least 20 weeks | Recruits twice a year for Fall/Winter (September-January) and Spring/Summer (April-August) (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability) |
| Oakland Zoo Teen Summer InternshipsInternship · Zoo or aquarium | Oakland, CA | Grades 11 to 12 | About 200 hours across 7 weeks, Sunday-Wednesday or Wednesday-Saturday, 9 am-4:30 pm; Summer 2026 ran June 10 to about August 1 | Applications closed for Summer 2026; info meetings were held in March (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability) |
| Oakland Zoo Teen Wild GuidesVolunteering · Zoo or aquarium | Oakland, CA | 13 and up | Every other weekend during the school year; once a week in summer | Application open year-round; Fall 2026 applications were due September 1 (past window; confirm next cycle) |
| Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA Junior VolunteersVolunteering · Animal shelter or rescue | Burlingame, CA | Ages 13 to 17 | 2 hours per week for at least six months | Year-round |
| San Francisco Zoo & Gardens ARC Junior ZoologistVolunteering · Zoo or aquarium | San Francisco, CA | Ages 15 to 17 | Two days per month for six months | Not posted |
| San Francisco Zoo & Gardens ARC Nature Trail VolunteerVolunteering · Zoo or aquarium | San Francisco, CA | Ages 12 to 14 | Minimum seven days per month; seasonal, June to September | Applications for 2027 open in March (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability) |
| The Marine Mammal Center Youth CrewVolunteering · Zoo or aquarium | Sausalito, CA | Not posted | 8-month service learning program; all posted dates are mandatory | Online application is available for two months (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability) |
| Wildlife Conservation Society and Fordham University Project TRUEResearch · Zoo or aquarium | Bronx, NY | Grades 10 to 11 | Summer (June-August) plus Saturdays September-December | Summer |
| Wildlife Conservation Society Discovery Guide Volunteer ProgramVolunteering · Zoo or aquarium | Bronx, NY | Ages 14 to 22 | Typically a spring and a summer session | Applications for the next cycle open in late December for Spring 2027; an interest form is available now (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability) |
Email me this list
A link to this list, so you have the age rules and application windows when they open.
Summer programs for pre-vet and animal science students
| Program | Where | Who can apply | Cost | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AEOPArmy Educational Outreach Program | Multiple locationsCommuter | Current high school students (also open to undergraduates) | Free with stipend | Varies by position; applications are always openLast cycle’s date |
| GarciaGarcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces, Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, NYResidential or commuter | High school students at least 16 years old | Paid | Not posted |
| LLPPrinceton University Science Outreach | Princeton, NJCommuter | Local New Jersey high school students age 16 or older | Free | March 15, 2026, 11:59 pm ESTLast cycle’s date |
| RMPUC Santa Barbara Summer Sessions | Santa Barbara, CAResidential or commuter | 10th or 11th grade (outstanding 9th graders accepted case by case) | Paid, aid available | March 8, 2027 |
| RSICenter for Excellence in Education, hosted at MIT | Cambridge, MA | High school juniors (seniors are not eligible) | Free | December 11, 2026, 11:59 pm |
| RISEBoston University Summer Term | Boston, MAResidential or commuter | Current high school juniors (entering senior year) | Paid, aid available | February 3, 2027, 11:59 pm Eastern |
| RIBSUniversity of Chicago Summer Session | Chicago, ILResidential | 10th and 11th grade students | Paid, aid available | Priority February 11, 2026; regular March 12, 2026Last cycle’s date |
| REACHScripps Research | La Jolla, CACommuter | High school students at least 16 years old | Free with stipend | March 22, 2026Last cycle’s date |
| SimonsSRPStony Brook University | Stony Brook, NYResidential or commuter | Current high school juniors (11th grade) | Free | February 5, 2026, 11:59 pm EST (school nomination due January 30, 2026; recommendations due February 13, 2026)Last cycle’s date |
| SIMRStanford University School of Medicine | Stanford, CACommuter | Current juniors and seniors as of fall 2026 (graduating classes of 2027 or 2028) | Free | Late February 2027 (the 2026 deadline was February 21, 2026) |
| SRAUC Santa Barbara Summer Sessions | Santa Barbara, CAResidential or commuter | 9th, 10th, or 11th grade | Paid, aid available | March 22, 2027 |
| SRCCaltech Center for Teaching, Learning, and Outreach | Pasadena, CACommuter | Rising 10th to 12th graders in Pasadena Unified School District high schools | Not posted | Not posted |
Browse other opportunities
By intended major
In New York City
In the Bay Area
- Pre-Med (18)
- Nursing and Health (18)
- Pre-Vet and Animal Science (12)
- Biology and Environmental Science (24)
- Engineering and Computer Science (7)
- Law and Government (3)
- Education (27)
- Arts and Humanities (8)
- Psychology and Social Work (6)
- Hospital (18)
- Zoo and Aquarium (11)
- Museum (10)
- Library (9)
- Animal Shelter (5)
- Parks and Environment (5)
- Community Service (3)
Frequently asked questions
What activities help a future pre-vet and animal science student?
Activities a student keeps up over time and can describe in their own words. One long commitment usually says more than several short ones.
Do these programs have age limits?
Most do. Each program page shows the minimum age or grade the organization posts, and says so when nothing is posted.
Sources and method
Each opportunity was read from the organization's own page. A rule, date, or fee the page does not state is left blank. Last checked 2026-10-13. Programs change age rules, hours, and application windows, so confirm on the official page before applying. Dewey Smart is not affiliated with these organizations.
Suggested attribution: Dewey Smart. “Pre-Vet and Animal Science Opportunities for High School Students”. https://www.deweysmart.com/opportunities/major/pre-vet.
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