Summer at the Biostation

Two programs. One opportunity.

Summer at the Biostation features two distinct programs designed to give students the opportunity to explore science, collaborate with peers, and experience life at the OU Biological Station.

Students wearing headlamps and waders stand together in shallow water at night while participating in a hands-on field biology sampling activity.

The Biostation Summer Camp will give rising 8th and 9th grade students the opportunity to explore the natural beauty surrounding the OU Biological Station through four immersive STEM-based sessions focused on field research, discovery, and hands-on learning.

Group of students standing together outdoors at night around a small campfire at the biological station during a residential summer learning experience.

Biostation Concurrent Enrollment provides rising 11th and 12th grade students the opportunity to earn college credit while studying at the OU Biological Station. During one immersive session, students complete one out of four courses while engaging in hands-on scientific exploration in the field.

Biostation Concurrent Enrollment

Earn 3 hours of college credit while living and learning at the OU Biological Station.

Group of students standing together in a biology classroom laboratory with microscopes and equipment during a hands-on learning session at the biological station.

Program Dates

July 13–24, 2026
Residential program at the OU Biological Station in Kingston, Oklahoma

Courses Offered

BIO 1013 – General Biology (Dr. Mark Walvoord)
SOC 1113 – Introduction to Sociology (Dr. Chris Garneau and Dr. Paul Ketchum)
MATH 1473 – Math for Critical Thinking (Deborah Moore-Russo)
HIST 1483 – United States History to 1865 (Dr. Jermaine Thibadeaux)

Concurrent Enrollment Eligibility

Students must be rising juniors or seniors and meet one of the following:

ACT 24 or SAT 1160
3.0 unweighted GPA and top 33.3% of class
Test-optional pathway through OU Concurrent Enrollment

Students wearing waders stand together in shallow creek water during a field sampling activity as part of a summer biological station experience.

Application Process

Apply through OU Concurrent Enrollment at apply.ou.edu
Submit an official high school transcript
Submit the Concurrent Enrollment Recommendation Form included in the application
Submit ACT/SAT scores if applying with test scores
Application deadline: June 1, 2026

Next Steps After Admission

Students accepted through Concurrent Enrollment will complete registration with Precollegiate Programs for Biological Station housing and program participation
The Biological Station Summer School program fee is collected during this step
Advising requirements may be coordinated directly with program staff
Please note: a textbook may be required for classes and will need to be purchased.

Student wearing gloves holds a snake while participating in a supervised wildlife handling activity at the biological station.

Program Costs

Estimated Total Cost (In-State Students): $1,040

Concurrent Enrollment Tuition: Waived for in-state students
University Fees: $240
Room and Board (OU Biological Station): $700
Program Fee: $100

Estimated Total Cost (Out-of-State Students): $3,389

Concurrent Enrollment Tuition: $2,349
University Fees: $240
Room and Board (OU Biological Station): $700
Program Fee: $100

Apply for Concurrent Enrollment

Register for Biostation Concurrent Enrollment

Biostation Summer Camp

Spend four days exploring science, mapping, and the microscopic world through hands-on investigations at the OU Biological Station on Lake Texoma.

Large group of students and staff gathered outdoors around the University of Oklahoma Biological Station sign, posing together during a summer residential science program at the OU Biological Station in Kingston, Oklahoma

Program Details

Dates: June 15–19, 2026
Location: OU Biological Station, Kingston, Oklahoma
Cost: $540
Eligibility: Rising 8th and 9th grade students
Format: Residential experience

What Students Gain

Experience applying the scientific method through hands-on investigations
Introduction to microbiology sampling and observation techniques
Opportunities to explore ecology and environmental science at Lake Texoma
Practice measuring distance and navigating without digital tools
Development of spatial reasoning and observational skills
A completed hand-illustrated watercolor map created during the program

Students live at the OU Biological Station and are supervised by OU staff, instructors, and trained counselors throughout the program.

Register for Biostation Summer Camp

Students gathered around a microscope in a biology classroom as one student observes a sample while others watch and discuss during a hands-on laboratory activity.

Scientific Investigations – Alex Shafer

Students explore the natural world through hands-on science investigations using science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) practices. Participants practice the scientific method by asking questions, developing hypotheses, testing ideas, collecting and analyzing data, and sharing results across scientific disciplines including ecology, biology, astronomy, and engineering. Each day includes experimental design challenges, observation and data collection, and interactive experiments that encourage teamwork, curiosity, and creative problem solving.

Student examining a plant specimen and recording observations at a lab table during a biology investigation activity at the biological station.

Microbe Hunters: Power, Patterns, and the Invisible World – Dr. Kristen Savage-Ashlock

Students explore the microscopic world found in and around Lake Texoma by collecting environmental samples and growing microorganisms in the lab. Using microscopes, participants observe microbial life and compare results across different samples from around the Biological Station. Students also experiment with building a simple bacterial battery to explore which samples produce the most power. While much of the course takes place outdoors collecting samples, students will also create agar art using bacteria as their artistic medium. No prior experience in microbiology is required.

Students working with microscopes and lab materials at tables in a classroom during a hands-on science session at the biological station.

CartoCraft: Make Your Mark on the World – Oyinkansola Tella

In a world of GPS and digital navigation tools, students learn how to observe their surroundings, measure distance using their own footsteps, and translate landscapes onto paper by hand. Participants create hand-drawn maps using watercolor techniques, add fine-detail cartographic elements, and design their own compass rose while developing spatial awareness and observational skills. Each student leaves the program with a finished, mounted, hand-illustrated watercolor map created during the course.