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, koalas, 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 kangaroos in Australia. Where in the world will your passion for animals take you?

High School Programs

Veterinary Academy: Costa Rica

Costa Rica
High School Program

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.

Veterinary Academy: Horses & Large Animals

New York
High School Program

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 anatomy of horses and large animals. In addition to learning at the hospital, you’ll spend time working with horses at equine rescues.

Veterinary Academy: Zoo Medicine

Massachusetts
High School Program

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.

Veterinary Academy: Zoo Medicine

Texas
High School Programs

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: Marine Biology

Florida
High School Program

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.

Middle School Programs

Future Vet: Zoo Medicine

Washington, D.C.
Middle School Program

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 a local Washington, D.C. zoo to learn more about animal enrichment and enclosure design.

Future Vet: Zoo Medicine

Texas
Middle School Program

Students will 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. They’ll learn from teaching veterinarians and seasoned zoo professionals as they’ll experience firsthand daily moments in a working veterinarian’s life.

Future Vet: Zoo Medicine

Massachusetts
Middle School Program

Students will 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. They’ll learn from teaching veterinarians and zookeepers about designing enclosures and animal enrichment activities.

Future Vet: Horses & Large Animals

New York
Middle School Program

Students will spend a week at a working equine hospital and veterinary clinic, where they’ll help prepare horses for surgery, learn how to bandage and suture wounds, and study the anatomy of horses and large animals. In addition to learning at the hospital, they’ll spend time working with horses at equine rescues.

Virtual Programs

Veterinary Academy: Virtual

Virtual
Middle School & High School Programs

Discover new skills, train with teaching veterinarians, and get a behind-the-scenes experience as you study veterinary medicine online. At your own pace, you can immerse yourself in the hands-on world of animal care and medicine in several disciplines from the comfort of home.

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.

Loop Abroad was recognized by GoAbroad as the top rated study abroad provider of 2024. Read more on GoAbroad.com.

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 2026 Veterinary Academy program brochure.

Get excited for 2026!

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 2026.

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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.