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Work with real animals + professionals in this veterinarian summer enrichment program

Do what you love

Join veterinarians and technicians in this veterinary summer enrichment program. You’ll learn how to understand animals and tell if they’re sick or hurt. Practice checking vital signs and giving CPR. Try your hand at suturing wounds and helping animals with broken bones.

For rising grades 8 + 9

  • Session 1: 
    Overnight: June 27 – July 10
    Day: June 28 - July 9 
  • Session 2: 
    Overnight: July 11 - July 24
    Day: July 12 - July 23  

  • Location:
    Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA

  • Tuition:
    Overnight: $6,575
    Day: $4,245
    Course Fee: $400
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What you'll learn at EXPLO's veterinarian enrichment program

Pet First Aid

First Aid for Pets

At EXPLO’s vet enrichment program, you’ll learn to help pets who get sick or hurt. Experience real-life scenarios and practice medical care for animals. This leading veterinary summer program connects you with professionals in the field. 

Feeding a giraffe

Large Animal Care

Go behind the scenes at a Boston-area zoo, where you'll learn about caring for large and exotic animals. Take a capture-and-restraint session, tour an animal surgery facility, and more. 

 

Dog Ultrasound

Domestic Pet Evaluations

Work with a visiting veterinarian to practice full medical evaluations on a cat or dog. Practice reading x-ray images, then use an ultrasound machine to identify organs inside of the animals.

 

Wildlife center Owl

Animal Rehabilitation

Visit a wildlife rehab center to explore rehabilitation in action. Watch animal caretakers as they treat baby skunks, raccoons, birds, and snakes—and see how their daily care and handling practices can lead to a full recovery.

 

Explore a veterinary future

Discover the field of veterinary medicine from the zoo to the farm. Work with animals and their caretakers at vet clinics, hospitals, and rehabilitation shelters. This is more than a traditional veterinarian camp. It's an enrichment program where you’ll learn what it takes to be a great vet or medical professional. Here are some examples of past trips and experts:

Visit Southwick’s Zoo, New England’s largest zoo and home to 850 animals representing 150 species from around the world. Get up close and personal with a behind-the-scenes tour and multiple animal-feeding encounters. This visit enhances your awareness of human-animal relationships—a unique feature of EXPLO's veterinary summer camp enrichment program.

 

Zoo Visit Feeding a Sloth

Dr. Graham Sager-Gellerman from Back Bay Veterinary Clinic will lead you through a lesson on radiology. Learn when to choose an x-ray over an ultrasound or MRI. Then, use a real ultrasound machine on a dog to see its organs in action! 

Ultrasound on a dog

Tour the animal rehabilitation center wards at the non-profit New England Wildlife Center. You’ll learn how veterinarians care for sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals. These experiences are important for future veterinary students. 

 

New England Wildlife Center Visit

Learn how to care for pet emergencies in the home with a special Pet CPR and First Aid demo by one of our visiting veterinarian partners. This is the kind of knowledge you will want to hold onto for the rest of your life, no matter what future career you choose!

vet
Field trip to Ocean State Equine

Explore a Day in the Life

Shaheen's Day student veterinary journey takes him from classroom to field—visiting Ocean State Equine Center, New England Wildlife Center, and the zoo. After hands-on learning, he unwinds with flex time and stays late for dinner and carnival night festivities.

Watch the video
Visiting dog at Vet Science

Inside the EXPLO Classroom

Check out a first-hand account of the Veterinary Science program from last summer, including a visiting expert, rotating skills stations, radiology 101, and a super cute golden retriever! 

Read the blog

Have a summer to remember   

You can experience Veterinary Science at EXPLO as an overnighter or a day student. Either way, you'll live campus life for two weeks at beautiful, historic Wellesley College just outside Boston. This wooded 500-acre campus boasts extensive academic and recreational facilities, a scenic lakefront, and lively Wellesley Square just outside the gates.

Whether on campus or off, the opportunities for action and fun are endless. Try out activities, from Gaga ball to jewelry-making. Go on a weekend whale watching trip or visit the historic North End of Boston on a foodie tour. Try your hand at all of the games at Carnival Night or just take in a movie in the evening. As always, the choice is yours—see for yourself!

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Frequently Asked Questions

You’ll interact with a variety of animals—from dogs to farm animals, and even some exotic species at a Boston-area zoo.

No experience is required. This program is designed for middle school students who love animals and want to explore veterinary science for the first time. Instructors and staff guide you step-by-step.

You’ll learn to check vital signs, practice CPR for pets, stitch simple wounds, splint broken limbs, and use diagnostic tools like ultrasounds and X-rays. You’ll also explore animal behavior, first aid, and rehabilitation.

Sessions are led by expert EXPLO instructors and supported by real veterinarians, vet technicians, and animal care specialists. This pairs educational experts with subject-matter experts who bring years of experience from clinics, hospitals, zoos, and rehabilitation centers.

Each day mixes hands-on labs with field trips and fun electives and activities. In the morning, you might practice first aid or check vital signs; in the afternoon, visit a zoo; and in the evening, compete in the EXPLOlympics or take part in the talent show with friends.

You’ll get an early look at the tools, skills, and problem-solving veterinarians use every day. Many students use this experience to see if veterinary medicine is the right career path and to test out medicine in general.

Safety is our top priority. Students are always supervised by veterinary professionals, use protective equipment, and are only given age-appropriate tasks. You’ll learn proper handling techniques before working with any animal.

The EXPLO Veterinary Science Focus program is offered for students in rising grades 8 + 9. As part of the application, students are required to write a personal essay demonstrating their interest in the program.

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