- Feel the energy as you navigate through registration lines, begin to form connections with peers, and let your anxiety for the week fade away.
Envision by WorldStrides
Veterinary Academy: Zoo Medicine Massachusetts
Go behind the scenes at AZA-accredited Capron Park Zoo in Attleboro, Massachusetts, where middle and high school students work alongside zoo veterinarians mastering essential veterinary skills and zoo management techniques.
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Where New England's Premier Zoo Becomes Your Veterinary Classroom
Picture yourself watching a zoo vet examine a white lion while learning how to safely restrain big cats, or designing enrichment activities for red kangaroos based on their natural behaviors. At the Veterinary Academy: Zoo Medicine, you'll get hands-on experience in professional zoo veterinary medicine at the AZA-accredited Capron Park Zoo in Massachusetts.
You'll stay at nearby Stonehill College with daily transfers to the zoo, where you'll master critical skills like suturing, reading radiographs, and necropsy procedures while rotating through different animal areas to learn specialized care for exotic birds, primates, and diverse species. Evenings at Stonehill balance structured learning with hanging out and building friendships while processing your incredible zoo experiences. Whether you're drawn to exotic animal medicine, zoo management, or wildlife conservation, this program gives you comprehensive zoo veterinary exposure while earning substantial hours that'll strengthen your vet school application.
Grades:
9-12Duration:
7 DaysCollege Credit Hours:
1 College CreditVeterinary Hours:
40 HoursFormat:
ResidentialStarting Price:
$4,799.00Locations, program content, and speakers are subject to change.
Envision by WorldStrides
For over 40 years, Envision—part of the WorldStrides family—has helped students from elementary through high school explore their interests and uncover what excites them most. Our immersive programs are built with educators and industry experts to support career exploration, leadership growth, and college prep. Along the way, students build real-world skills, boost their confidence, and start to see a clearer path toward their future.
Why This Program Changes Everything
Work with Iconic Zoo Animals
Interact with ambassador animals including white lions, red kangaroos, Amur leopards, sloth bears, and 100+ species representing reptiles, birds, and mammals in a professional zoo setting.
Master Essential Veterinary Skills
Gain hands-on experience with suturing, radiograph interpretation, necropsy procedures, and physical examinations while learning specialized techniques for exotic animal care and wildlife medicine.
Professional Zoo Medicine Environment
Train with teaching veterinarians in a real zoo setting, learning enclosure design, animal enrichment activities, and daily operations of professional animal care.
College Campus Experience
Stay at Stonehill College with daily transfers to Capron Park Zoo, experiencing college life and professional veterinary practice while building practical skills and connections.
Built for Your Veterinary School Success
Earn Up to 40 Veterinary Hours
Gain up to 40 veterinary hours toward vet school admission requirements, with specialized zoo medicine experience that demonstrates exotic animal expertise and sets your application apart.
Master Diverse Animal Categories
Work with all six primary veterinary categories for vet school: avian, reptiles, large animals, exotic pets, primates, and wildlife, ensuring comprehensive experience requirements.
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Learn Zoo Management and Design
Learn zoo operations including enclosure design, animal enrichment creation, behavioral assessment, and the challenges of maintaining diverse species in captive environments.
Small Group Professional Mentorship
With maximum of 30 students and 10:1 student-to-veterinarian ratio, receive personalized attention and direct mentorship from zoo veterinarians in an intimate learning environment.
About Loop Abroad, our partner in Veterinary Medicine
Loop Abroad is the leading pre-veterinary travel program in the nation, with thousands of alumni at university and vet school campuses across the U.S. Their programs help students experience diverse veterinary careers firsthand. With an international team of expert wildlife and zoo veterinarians, Loop Abroad helps empower students to pursue the animal science careers of their dreams.
Dates, Locations, & Tuition
What does the price include?
What does the price include?
Tuition includes room & board, site visits & transportation during the program, lectures, simulations, curriculum & materials, college credit, and faculty & staff.
Regions:
Capron Park Zoo
Attleboro, Massachusetts, United States
$4,799.00Residential
Dates: July 12-18
Duration: 7 Days
$4,799.00Residential
Dates: July 19-25
Duration: 7 Days
Featured Extras
Envision Scrub Set
Help your child look and feel like a real medical professional in this Envision-branded scrub set. Available in Adult XS through Adult XL for $65, including shipping. Available for purchase during enrollment.
WorldStrides Backpack
A durable, versatile backpack perfect for school, travel, or everyday use. Available for purchase during enrollment.
WorldStrides Sunglasses
Stylish sunglasses with UV protection. Available for purchase during enrollment.
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
- Connect with your WorldStrides team and Loop Abroad veterinarians as you kick off the week with welcome activities and orientation.
Day 2
- Discover the fascinating world of exotic wildlife mammals in your first lecture led by your veterinarian.
- Observe the unique behaviors of exotic and native species during your visit to Capron Zoo, where you'll gain insight into animal communication, social interactions, and habitat-driven routines.
Food Preparation
- Prepare balanced and species-specific meals for zoo animals, learning how nutrition supports health, behavior, and enrichment.
Enclosure Maintenance and Management
- Maintain animal enclosures by cleaning, inspecting, and organizing habitats to ensure safety, hygiene, and comfort for each species.
Animal Enrichment
- Create engaging enrichment tools and activities that stimulate natural behaviors, promote mental well-being, and enhance the daily lives of zoo animals.
- Practice essential suturing techniques under the guidance of your veterinarian, gaining hands-on experience in wound closure and surgical skills used in clinical animal care.
Day 3
Practice Physical Exams
- Perform hands-on physical examinations to assess animal health, learning key techniques for evaluating vital signs, body condition, and overall wellness.
Positive Reinforcement Training
- Apply positive reinforcement methods to encourage desired behaviors, build trust and communication between animals and caregivers through reward-based training.
Food Preparation
- Prepare balanced and species-specific meals for zoo animals, learning how nutrition supports health, behavior, and enrichment.
Enclosure Maintenance and Management
- Maintain animal enclosures by cleaning, inspecting, and organizing habitats to ensure safety, hygiene, and comfort for each species.
Animal Enrichment
- Create engaging enrichment tools and activities that stimulate natural behaviors, promote mental well-being, and enhance the daily lives of zoo animals.
- Explore the ethical responsibilities of zoos, the principles of animal welfare, and the vital role zoos play in global conservation efforts during an engaging lecture led by your veterinarian.
- Learn essential bandaging techniques in a hands-on classroom session with your veterinarian, focusing on proper wound care, support, and stabilization methods used in clinical practice.
Day 4
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- Discover the fundamentals of reptile care in an introductory session with your veterinarian, covering handling techniques, habitat setup, nutrition, and species-specific health considerations.
- Practice veterinary diagnostics and reptile physical exams with your veterinarian, building skills in species-specific care.
- Identify common parasites in a lab session with your vet, using microscopes to assess animal health.
Food Preparation
- Prepare balanced and species-specific meals for zoo animals, learning how nutrition supports health, behavior, and enrichment.
Enclosure Maintenance and Management
- Maintain animal enclosures by cleaning, inspecting, and organizing habitats to ensure safety, hygiene, and comfort for each species.
Animal Enrichment
- Create engaging enrichment tools and activities that stimulate natural behaviors, promote mental well-being, and enhance the daily lives of zoo animals.
- Design a creative enrichment project tailored to your assigned zoo animal, apply behavioral insights and presenting your plan to enhance welfare and stimulate natural behaviors.
Day 5
- Explore avian care basics through small group work focused on handling, nutrition, and health practices.
- Analyze radiographs with your vet to identify anatomy and spot clinical abnormalities.
- Perform rabbit physical exams with your veterinarian, focusing on gentle handling, health assessment, and species-specific care techniques.
- Prepare for your keeper talk by researching your assigned animal, organizing key facts, and developing a clear, engaging presentation to share with zoo visitors.
Day 6
- Present your keeper talk to zoo visitors, sharing engaging facts and stories about your assigned animal to educate and inspire public interest in wildlife care and conservation.
- Share insights into veterinary careers as your vet discusses job paths in animal medicine, the differences between capture-and-release and rehabilitation, and their role in wildlife care and conservation.
Enclosure Design Workshop
- Collaborate in small groups to design enriching animal enclosures, applying knowledge of species needs, behavior, and welfare.
Blood Cytology Lab
- Investigate blood samples in small groups with your veterinarian, learning to identify cell types and assessing animal health.
Day 7
- Students who have flights will be brought to the airport while all other students will wait to be picked up.
Health & Safety
Travel with confidence knowing you're never alone out there. When you choose Envision by WorldStrides, you've got an entire support network working around the clock to keep you safe.
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Safety Monitoring
Extensive Preparation
Local Support
Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions
I am having trouble with my roommate or classmate. What support is available to help?
All of our staff members are equipped to help scholars with any issues or concerns that may arise during the program. If at any time you have a concern, you are encouraged to reach out to a staff member for assistance. An onsite staff member is available 24 hours.
What if I do not feel well?
All of our staff members are equipped to help you with any issues or concerns that may arise during the program. If at any time you have a concern, you are encouraged to reach out to a staff member for assistance. An onsite staff member is available 24 hours. Students will always have cell phone numbers for designated program staff.
I will be arriving late to the program; can I still attend?
Yes. If you will be arriving late to the program, please call our Office of Admissions team to notify us of your delayed arrival. Once you arrive, you will complete registration, and you will be escorted to meet the group.
I left an important item at home. What do I do?
Families should contact the onsite contact phone number so coordination can occur. The group is offsite all day and back on campus in the evening. All items, unless urgent, will be delivered to you upon return to campus in the evening.
What education level do your staff have?
Veterinarians are professionals in the industry. Senior Management Staff have a bachelor’s degree or above. Support staff are often collegiate students in veterinary school or in education or like backgrounds, most are also alumnae of prior veterinary medicine programs of our partner, Loop Abroad.
I take medication, how will that be handled?
You should inform staff of any medication but then you will need to self-manage medication while on program. Families should be reminded to send more than enough medication for the duration of the program. Envision staff are not able to administer any kind of medication even over-the-counter medication, like Tylenol. Parents must complete a Student Medication Administration Form (included on the Student Portal) and submit to the program staff on arrival day. Specific requests regarding medication, including requests for refrigeration, should be shared with our Office of Admissions.
I have specific dietary restrictions. Where do I submit this information and who can I speak with to discuss my needs?
If you have specific dietary concerns you can submit your needs before the program starts via the student portal. We have vegetarian options available for all meals at all locations. All other dietary needs (vegan, Kosher, Halal, gluten free, food allergies, fasting, etc.) should be communicated to our Office of Admissions.
Can I request to be roommates with someone else?
We assign roommates according to the age of each student unless we receive a specific request. Although we try to ensure that every student has a roommate, we cannot guarantee a roommate, and some students may be placed in a single room. Students can request one roommate if:
- Both students are enrolled in the same program/session
- Both students identify as the same gender
- Both students complete the online Roommate Request Form no later than 3 weeks before their session.
Is there a Packing List?
One will be provided online closer to the program, that said students are outside from approximately 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., in the summer, working with animals. Appropriate yet comfortable attire will be required. Closed toe shoes are a requirement.
What work background does your staff have? Have they taught/worked with youth before?
All staff go through extensive training that includes developmental needs of students, facilitation techniques, classroom management strategies, as well as our medical, emergency, safety, and accountability policies. Many of our support staff are college students who have a passion for working with youth.
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