Experience Your Future with Veterinary Academy

See the world as you learn from leading conservationists and teaching veterinarians, and get a firsthand look at a life and career dedicated to caring for animals.

Sloths, elephants, and horses, oh my!

Forget boring summer camps! Veterinary Academy programs offer endless possibilities to explore. You can care for stray dogs and contribute to wildlife conservation efforts in Costa Rica, connect with the public about the importance of habitat preservation at the Texas Zoo, or live amongst the elephants in Thailand. Where in the world will your passion for animals take you?
Where in the world will your passion for animals take you?

Costa Rica Veterinary Experience

Costa Rica

Experience the best of both worlds as you go behind-the-scenes at a stray dog clinic, practicing diagnostic testing and clinical lab rotations, and immerse yourself in the world of wildlife conservation as you shadow veterinarians rehabilitating animals that have been victims of wildlife trafficking.

Florida Reef Experience

Florida

Spend your summer working with The Reef Institute in Palm Beach as they assist in ongoing research and restoration efforts to preserve coral reefs and marine wildlife in Florida. You’ll practice valuable data collection and laboratory research skills like coral tagging and fish identification as you contribute to the conservation of a vulnerable ecosystem.

Elephant Sanctuary & Dog Rescue

Thailand

Now’s your chance to enjoy the best of both worlds. You’ll spend one full week practicing your clinical skills at a pet clinic in Chiang Mai. After that, you’ll head to the Elephant Nature Park, home to over 80 elephants rescued from inhumane working conditions, for a week of learning about and caring for these gentle giants.

Horse & Large Animal Medicine

New York

Spend a week at a working equine hospital and veterinary clinic, where you’ll help prepare horses for surgery, learn how to bandage and suture wounds, and study the biomechanics of riding disciplines.

Zoo Medicine & Management in Massachusetts

The Capron Park Zoo

Now’s your chance to go behind the scenes at a working zoo and get hands-on experience working with a variety of animals, from the Red Kangaroo to the White Lion. You’ll learn from teaching veterinarians and zookeepers about designing enclosures and animal enrichment activities.

Zoo Medicine & Management in Texas

The Texas Zoo

Now’s your chance to go behind-the-scenes at a working zoo and get hands-on experience working with a variety of animals, from the American Alligator to the Two-toed Sloth. Learn from teaching veterinarians and seasoned zoo professionals as you experience firsthand daily moments in a working veterinarian’s life.

Veterinary Academy: Middle School

Washington, D.C.

Students will learn from teaching veterinarians about animal anatomy, canine first aid, and the ins-and-outs of veterinary school. They’ll also spend two half-days exploring the Smithsonian National Zoo to learn more about animal enrichment and enclosure design.

Helping you envision your future since 1968

For 55 years, WorldStrides has been creating life-changing moments for students. Our programs provide immersive test drives of nearly 20 different career paths, from Medicine to National Security to Veterinary Medicine. After attending one of our programs, 92% of students can identify multiple career paths within their field of interest.

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.

Hear from Jane Stine, co-founder of Loop Abroad

How It Works

From answering all your pre-journey questions to the first celebratory flop on your own bed upon your return, WorldStrides is with you every step of the way.

Enjoy tailored support from our team as soon as you confirm your spot in the program.

Enjoy a truly personalized experience with an average student-to-veterinarian staff ratio of 10:1.

Earn up to 80 veterinary hours, a requirement of veterinary school admissions.

Enjoy the natural beauty and culture of your destination as you learn and work alongside local animal care experts.

Download Our Brochure

Browse through all of our programs with ease by downloading the 2025 Veterinary Academy program brochure.

Get excited for 2025!

Filmed at the end of a successful 2024 summer season, Jane Stine, co-founder of Loop Abroad, describes why we’re already looking forward to Veterinary Academy 2025.

Want to learn more? Fill out this form to schedule a call with one of our advisors

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For the safety of students, staff, and animals, not all animals may be touched or handled by participants. The teaching veterinarian and other professional staff members will advise students of the proper time, place, and method to handle animals when it is safe to do so.