The USESO Training Camp, run by the nonprofit United States Earth Science Organization (USESO), is the only path to the US team for the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO). The camp runs for about a week each June at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma, with field trips, team projects using self-collected data, and discussions with faculty and industry experts. The 2026 camp ran June 13 to June 21.
There is no application; students must first take the National Open Exam. The 16 top scorers are invited automatically, and a selection committee fills the remaining places through holistic review. USESO says up to 40 students attend each year, while another line on the camp page describes the 2026 camp as the top 45. Campers must be US citizens or green card holders in grades 9 to 12 in the spring before camp and at least 15 by the first day. The 2026 fee was $2,600, with need-based aid; the USESO FAQ says that, unlike many olympiad camps that are free, it has had no sponsorship from a larger organization since September 2023.
At the end of camp, four students are chosen for the US IESO team based on theory and practical exams and team investigations, and up to four guest competitors travel with them. IESO 2026 took place in Turin, Italy, in August.
