Spring and Summer 2014
Register Early Priority registration begins on Tuesday, February 11 for Supporting Members and Donor Circle supporters ($250+). Upgrade your Family Membership to take advantage of this special benefit. Call (415) 339-3954 or visit BayKidsMuseum.org/membership to join as a Supporting Member today! General registration begins on February 18. Questions? Please see the Frequently Asked Questions at the end of the brochure.
small classes
BIG FUN
Welcome to another amazing year of Discover y Camps! Each year, we are excited to add a new twist to our camps for all of our devoted families. This year, we have two new options for older children: our Junior Counselor program for kids ages 9 – 12, and a new theme for school-aged campers called Inventing with Art. We’ve also added one more extended care option after morning camp sessions: now kids can stay and play for an extra hour from 1 – 2 p.m.! And for the first time, you can purchase lunch for your kids when you register for camp. Bean Sprouts Café & Cooking School, our healthy and kid-friendly café, will prepare a delicious lunch and deliver it right to campers in their classroom. You’ll also find some of the successful changes we made last year in place again: two Big Discoveries sessions every week for our 3-year-old friends and our super popular PM program Summer Camp Sampler. We’re also continuing to offer an extra week of camp from August 18 – 22 for those kids who start school a bit later. Parents tell us over and over that there are two things that set our programs apart from other camps: our caring, professional staff and the way our approach ignites children’s creative thinking. The Museum offers rich territory for children to explore the natural world, test out new ideas and experience the freedom of child-directed, open-ended learning through play, guided by expert educators. Each summer as children work to solve the problem of how build a solid fort, create their own sets and costumes for performances, experiment with art materials or discover native plants and animals, they are exercising their brains in important ways. On top of all that, kids have an absolute blast in our camps. We love seeing kids grow and change over the years, and always value your feedback in supporting the growth of our camps right alongside them. Please feel free to call either one of us directly if you have questions or concerns at any time. We cannot wait to see you all this summer! Sincerely,
Heather Posner (415) 339-3982 hposner@badm.org
Danielle Pitchford (415) 339-3906 dpitchford@badm.org
Register at BayKidsMuseum.org
NEW!
Lunch Delivery
Bean Sprouts Café & Cooking School delivers yummy, good-for-you lunches to camp. All lunches come with a sandwich from their Imaginibbles menu, seasonal fruit or veggie, and an organic juice box. Larger sizes available for bigger appetites. Bean appétit! Visit beansprouts.com/lunchbunch to learn more.
Spring Break Camp April 15 – 18 (four days)
Imaginary Worlds: Witches, Wizards, Knights and Princesses Children ages 4 – 8 Full day only, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Supporting Members $375; General $400 Dragons, mermaids, unicorns and kings welcome, too. Imagination rules in this camp for fairy tale fanatics of all stripes. Children will weave a tale around characters they create, drawing from unlimited options. Using an interdisciplinary approach, each camper will explore art as they set the scene for their original production and make their own costumes; learn science while making potions; and build confidence as they act out their own character. Additional $10 materials fee.
Summer Discovery Camps June 2 – August 22
About Discovery Camps Camps are organized by grade level to meet the developmental needs of the children. Please note: adults are not allowed to attend camp with children. Preschool Camp: School-aged Camps: 3-year-olds who are currently enrolled Children who are entering first, second, and in a preschool program. Children enrolled in third grade (1/2/3) in the fall of 2014. the Preschool Camp must be 3-years-old by Mixed Ages Camps: June 2, 2014. We are not able to accept Children who are eligible for children in diapers or pull-ups. pre-kindergarten or school-aged camps. Pre-kindergarten Camps: Children ages 4 and 5 who have not yet attended Kindergarten. PLEASE NOTE: Children older than 5 who have not completed Kindergarten should enroll in the Pre-kindergarten group.
NEW!
Our preschool and pre-kindergarten camps maintain an adult to child ratio of 1:4. Our school-aged camps maintain an adult to child ratio of 1:7.
Junior Counselor Program
Our Junior Counselor program is for children ages 9 through 12-years-old. Each year, we have a crew of Discovery Camp pros who will graduate from our program; some of these friends have been coming to camp since they were just wee little 3-year-olds! This year, we invite alumni campers to apply to join our first class of official Junior Counselors. Each Junior Counselor will be paired with an adult staff member in a preschool or pre-kindergarten AM camp where they will learn the ropes, from planning treasure hunts to setting up for snack. This is a great leadership opportunity for big kids to stay connected with the wonderful experiences they’ve enjoyed year after year. And of course, each J.C. will get their very own official staff t-shirt! Junior Counselors can apply on our website: BayKidsMuseum.org/camps Fees: $100 per week (Includes snacks and staff t-shirt)
Little Kids, Big Discoveries! Preschool Welcome to Big Discoveries, our special camp just for 3-year-old preschoolers. Expertly designed to be developmentally appropriate for our youngest campers, children will have the chance to explore art, science and outdoor learning at their own pace. Together with professional early childhood educators, campers will be immersed in the best of Discovery Camp themes based on the ages and interests of the children. From On the Bay to Shipwrecks and Treasure Hunts, this camp allows for children to participate in multiple weeks as they learn routines and try new things. PLEASE NOTE: Children enrolled in this camp must have experience being dropped off in a childcare setting prior to attending.
Summer Camp Sampler Mixed Ages* Week 2 – Week 11 1 – 4 p.m. Back by popular demand is our afternoon camp, featuring highlights from our best camp themes. Each afternoon, children signed up for the PM program will experience our favorite camp activities as they experience a variety of topics. Our afternoon camp will give children a chance to try themes they may have not experienced before and allow them freedom to dig deeper into some of their favorites. As the children’s unique interests emerge, the staff will adjust the curriculum to allow them to explore their interests. Our PM programs offer a staff to child ratio of 1:6, lower than most other camps. Each day will focus on a flexible theme: Mondays: Shipwrecks and Treasure Hunts. We have the opportunity to explore the Museum’s wide variety of exhibits and outdoor spaces as we search for treasure, make our own maps, and imagine life as a seafaring pirate. Tuesdays: Science exploration. Activities may include owl pellet dissection, mixing concoctions, making our own play dough, and experimenting with different scientific tools (tweezers, pipettes, beakers, magnifying glasses). Wednesday: On the Bay. On this day, we will adventure around our unique local environment through hiking, gardening and fort building. Children will have the chance to investigate local plants and animals through hands-on discovery. Thursday: Art Attack. Campers will unleash their artistic potential as they play with different mediums using various art techniques. This is a wonderful opportunity to focus on the process rather than the product – fostering innovation and encouraging creativity. Friday: Physical exploration. Children will get physical through dance, obstacle courses, yoga and other movement-based activities. PLEASE NOTE: 3-year-old children are not eligible for the afternoon sessions.
Bugs, Insects and Spiders Pre-kindergarten For curious kids who love all things squirmy, crawly and winged, this camp allows children to explore the outdoors and translate what they’ve learned into art and stories. Campers will create a collaborative habitat sculpture to share with families and friends at the end of camp.
Fort Building School-aged
Water Wonders Pre-kindergarten Campers roll up their sleeves and get ready to get wet in this camp — swimsuit not required! They will discover the wonders of water through scientific investigation, art activities and so much water play. Kids will do experiments and go on adventures to find out all they can about H2O.
Drop-in Programs Coordinator Kelly Morton takes children on building adventures as they use real tools and building materials to support their imaginary adventures. School-aged children will have the option to create forts, stories and props as we transform our outdoor classroom into a secret garden, where children create their own magical worlds. Additional $20 materials fee.
Creature Creations Pre-kindergarten What has wings, fur and sleeps during the day? An imaginary creature invented by kids! Children learn all about our local critter friends right here in the Bay Area to spark their imagination to create a furry or feathered beast of their own. Campers will express their discoveries through art and dictate stories to instructors to create their own works of fiction to bring home at the end of camp.
NEW!
Inventing with Art School-aged
Experience our all-new art and innovation camp just for big kids! Using interdisciplinary art techniques, campers will work together to create an art installation at the Museum. This camp features the creativity and ingenuity kids love from our Fort Building camp combined with our signature approach to child-directed art. Get to work kids — this art-making is serious business.
Imaginary Worlds: Witches, Wizards, Knights and Princesses Pre-kindergarten Dragons, mermaids, unicorns and kings welcome too. Imagination rules in this camp for fairy tale fanatics of all stripes. Children will weave a tale around characters they create, drawing from unlimited options. Using an interdisciplinary approach, each camper will create art as they set the scene for their original production and make their own costumes; learn science while making potions; and build confidence as they act out their own character. Additional $10 materials fee.
On the Bay Pre-kindergarten Kids investigate local animals and search the shores for hidden treasures in this signature Bay Area Discovery Museum Camp. Children take on the persona of bugs, fish, plants and birds as they explore the natural bay environments through hiking, experiments and hands-on discovery.
Art Attack! Pre-kindergarten + Mixed Ages Calling all Picassos! Campers express themselves through paint, sculpture, natural objects, recycled materials and our very popular messy art curriculum. Each day focuses on introducing new techniques and experimenting with a variety of fun, basic media. Children in this camp will engage with the artistic process no matter how messy they may get — and they do get messy!
Shipwrecks and Treasure Hunts Pre-kindergarten + Mixed Ages Ahoy ye scurvy landlubbers! Children experience the delights and hardships of a seafaring life: make maps, sing chanteys, dig for artifacts and treasures from mysterious lands, and discover weird sea creatures. Campers spend five days pretending to be sailors embarking on a historic voyage of discovery and adventure!
Super Heroes and Heroines Pre-kindergarten + Mixed Ages Look up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s our very own group of superheroes! Kids will work with the instructors to create superhero costumes and masks, and invent worlds where our heroes save helpless creatures and entire planets from menacing forces. We invite family and friends to watch our great feats of strength and bravery on the last day of camp. Additional $10 materials fee.
Love our camps? Then check out
NOT-A-SCHOOL
CREATIVE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM September 2014 – May 2015 Not-A-School is the first licensed preschool in a Museum in California where kids can experience our one-of-a-kind setting and high quality educators all year long. Ages 2.9 – 5 years Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Children explore the arts, the sciences and the environment through play and guided inquiry led by our exceptional team of early childhood educators. Applications for Fall 2014 (2014 - 2015 school year) are now available. To apply, check out our website and complete the online form. When you click ‘submit’ you will be redirected to a page with a link to submit the $50 application fee online. *Facility number 214005255
Preschool Camps: 3-year-olds who are currently enrolled in a preschool program. Please note: children enrolled in the Preschool Camp must be 3-years-old by June 2, 2014. Pre-kindergarten Camps: Children ages 4 and 5 who are attending preschool or who will be attending kindergarten in the fall of 2014. School-aged Camps: Children who are entering first, second and third grade in the fall of 2014. Mixed Ages: Children who are eligible for pre-kindergarten or school-aged camps.
Summer Camp SCHEDULE Week 2 June 9 – 13
a.m.
p.m.
a.m.
p.m.
a.m.
p.m.
Big Discoveries Art Attack!
Week 1 June 2 – 6
On the Bay a.m.
Shipwrecks and Treasure Hunts Big Discoveries Fort Building Shipwrecks and Treasure Hunts Summer Camp Sampler
Week 5 June 30 – July 3
a.m.
p.m.
Week 6 July 7 – 11
Big Discoveries
Big Discoveries
Art Attack!
Art Attack!
Super Heroes and Heroines
Bugs, Insects and Spiders
Summer Camp Sampler
Super Heroes and Heroines Fort Building Summer Camp Sampler
Week 9 July 28 – August 1
a.m.
p.m.
Week 10 August 4 – 8
Big Discoveries
Big Discoveries
Imaginary Worlds
Imaginary Worlds
Creature Creations
Creature Creations
Water Wonders
Water Wonders
Inventing with Art
Inventing with Art
Summer Camp Sampler
Summer Camp Sampler
Week 3 June 16 – 20
a.m.
p.m.
Week 4 June 23 – 27
Big Discoveries
Big Discoveries
Art Attack!
Art Attack!
On the Bay
On the Bay
Shipwrecks and Treasure Hunts
Shipwrecks and Treasure Hunts
Fort Building
Fort Building
Summer Camp Sampler
Summer Camp Sampler
Week 7 July 14 – 18
Week 8 July 21 – 25
a.m.
p.m.
Big Discoveries
Big Discoveries
Art Attack!
Art Attack!
Bugs, Insects and Spiders
Bugs, Insects and Spiders
Super Heroes and Heroines
Super Heroes and Heroines
Fort Building
Inventing with Art
Summer Camp Sampler
Summer Camp Sampler
Week 11 August 11 – 15
a.m.
p.m.
Week 12 August 18 – 22
Big Discoveries
Big Discoveries
Imaginary Worlds
Shipwrecks and Treasure Hunts
Creature Creations Water Wonders Inventing with Art Summer Camp Sampler
a.m.
p.m.
a.m.
p.m.
a.m.
How to REGISTER Register Early In order to have your first choice of camps it’s best to register early, though we regularly have openings throughout the summer. For immediate camp reservations and confirmation, register online at BayKidsMuseum.org/camps. T o register by phone, please call (415) 339-3931. Due to the high volume of calls received, please allow extra time for a response. Plan Carefully There is a $25 transaction fee for each change made after your application is received; this includes changing sessions or topics. Please DO NOT submit duplicate registrations. Discounts Supporting Members receive $25 off each camp week registration. Multiple Week Discount For multiple camps purchased at the same time. Four weeks: save $25 Five weeks: save $50 Six weeks: save $75 Seven or more weeks: save $100 E-mail Confirmation Camp billing statements, confirmations and important information will be sent via e-mail. If you do not receive these e-mails, please call (415) 339-3931 to confirm the correct e-mail address is on file. Wait Lists In the event the camp of your choice is full, please sign up for the waitlist online. If an opening becomes available, you will be contacted immediately by telephone.
Camp FEES (per session)
AM Sessions 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
PM Sessions 1 – 4 p.m.
Lunch Delivery from Bean Sprouts
Includes supervised lunch. Lunch delivery may be added for an extra fee.
Summer Camp Sampler $150 Supporting Members $175 General
Summer Camps
Week of June 30 only
Regular + Extra Snack $40 per week
$325 Supporting Members $350 General Week of June 30 only (no camp on July 4)
$195 Supporting Members $210 General Extended Care Fees $10 per child each day for 8 – 9 a.m. or 4 – 5 p.m. only $35 per child each week for morning and afternoons
(no camp on July 4)
$90 Supporting Members $105 General
Materials Fees $20 Fort Building $10 Imaginary Worlds $10 Super Heroes and Heroines
Pick-up times are firm. Please be prompt.
Regular Size $30 per week
Spring Camp & Week of June 30 only Regular Size $24 per week Regular + Extra Snack $36 per week
Camp Hours
Camp INFORMATION
AM sessions: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. PM sessions: 1 – 4 p.m.
Extended Care Hours Before care: 8 – 9 a.m. N E W extended care from 1 – 2 p.m. (registration for full week only) After care: 4 – 5 p.m.
Refund Policy
Snack
The Bay Area Discovery Museum reserves the right to cancel camps not fully enrolled and will issue full refunds in such cases. There is a $50 cancellation fee per camp assessed to all customer requested refunds at any time. Camp fees are 50% refundable if requested after March 31 and up to 3 weeks before the start of the session in which your child is enrolled. No refunds will be given after that time.
We provide a simple nutritious snack during each camp session. Please note that campers with food allergies or sensitivities should bring their own snack.
50% Refund deadlines for each session: Week 1: May 12 Week 2: May 19 Week 3: May 26 Week 4: June 2 Week 5: June 9 Week 6: June 16 Week 7: June 23 Week 8: June 30 Week 9: July 7 Week 10: July 14 Week 11: July 21 Week 12: July 28
Medical Forms All of the necessary medical information will be supplied at the time of registration. Any special medical concerns must be communicated to the Public Programs Coordinator ahead of time; please contact Danielle Pitchford at (415) 339-3906, prior to the first day of camp. Parents of children who require an Epi-pen must supply a form signed by their child’s doctor prior to the first day of the camp session they are enrolled in or we will not be able to allow the Epi-pen at camp.
Extended Care Discovery Camps staff will watch your child for up to one hour before or after camps. $10 per child each day for 8 - 9 a.m. or 4 5 p.m. only $35 per child each week for morning and afternoons Pick up times are firm. Please be prompt.
Emergency Care Fee An additional $1 per minute care fee applies for all children remaining more than five minutes past their registered pick-up time. This fee applies to all emergencies without exception. If you are going to be late, please call the camp emergency cell phone at (415) 339-3961 to alert camp staff.
Dropping off and picking up your campers: Campers can be dropped off and picked up in the horseshoe driveway by the main entrance in front of the Museum. Summer camp staff will greet campers there. When arriving late, please call the camp cell phone at (415) 339-3961. Authorized adults must sign-out children. Please bring a photo ID when you, or your child’s caregivers, pick up your child.
Supervised Lunch Campers will eat lunch in their classroom with their instructors. Please note lunch delivery is available for an extra fee from Bean Sprouts Café & Cooking School. Sign up for lunch delivery at time of registration; visit beansprouts.com/lunchbunch to view a weekly menu and for more information. Although our café is nut free, please list any food allergies or sensitivities during the registration process.
BayKidsMuseum.org
11
Camp INFORMATION Continued...
Discovery Camp T-shirts Each camper will receive a 100% cotton t-shirt included with your camp fees. Limit of one t-shirt per camper.
Frequently Asked QUESTIONS
Toys Please leave stuffed animals, trading cards, and other toys at home. Toys brought to camp often become lost or damaged.
Donate to our Scholarship Fund Please consider making a donation to our scholarship fund when you complete your online enrollment. Simply select the button and designate the amount you would like to contribute. Last season our generous donors helped 10 children attend Discovery Camps.
Scholarships A limited number of camp scholarships are available. Complete the scholarship form available at BayKidsMuseum.org/ campscholarship. Scholarships are awarded in the order received based on need. Please submit scholarship requests before May 2, 2014. You will be contacted by telephone if you receive a scholarship. In order to accommodate as many children as possible, we are limited to offering one week of camp per scholarship family.
Become a Supporting Member You can receive discounts on your camp fees by becoming a Supporting Member, online or when registering by phone. PLEASE NOTE: Only Supporting Members at the $250 level and above will receive the discounted price.
Supporting Member benefits include admission for your whole family and two guests; discounts on performances, programs and store purchases; members-only events and more. For more information, visit BayKidsMuseum.org/ membership.
“ The combination of free play, child-driven exploration, and interesting challenges posed by the staff is unmatched in any other program in the Bay Area. And we’ve tried most of them.” – CAMPS PARENT SUMMER 2013
12 BayKidsMuseum.org
My child has never been dropped off for childcare before; can they be enrolled in camp? In an effort to make the camp experience a positive one for young children, it is best that they have practiced the routine of being dropped off in a childcare or other drop-off program before they come to camp. Please provide the name of the program your children are currently enrolled in upon registration. There are no exceptions to this policy. School-age children whom are home-schooled may still be able to enroll in camp, please call Heather Posner, Public Programs Manager, at (415) 339-3982 if you have any questions about this policy. Can children under the age of 4 sign up for camp? Preschoolers age 3 are eligible for the Big Discoveries camp theme only. They are not eligible for our Pre-kindergarten camps. Young 4-year-olds may also be enrolled in Big Discoveries. My 5-year-old has not attended kindergarten yet – what camp should she sign up for? Children who have not yet attended kindergarten should enroll in the pre-kindergarten camps. Can children entering kindergarten enroll in the Big Discoveries camp sessions? No, this special camp is designed to provide the best experience possible for our youngest campers. Is lunch-care optional? No, all of our half day camps will run from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and include lunch time. Children will eat in their classrooms with instructors and fellow campers. You may purchase lunch to be delivered to your child’s classroom for an extra fee.
What should my child wear to camp? Please send your child in old clothes that you do not mind getting dirty. While we use mostly washable products, stains can still occur. During our camps children play all around the Museum and outdoors, and they can sometimes tear, damage or stain clothes. It is also advisable to send them in layers; weather at the Museum can be unpredictable. Please send children in closed toe shoes. Who are the camp instructors? All of the Lead Instructors are certified teachers, preschool teachers, experts in their crafts, or have a strong background in child development. Our counseling staff is made up of dedicated young adults, many of who played at The Bay Area Discovery Museum when they were little, and have previous experience working with children. Are parents or other caregivers allowed to attend camp with children? The Museum does not allow adults to attend camp with children. If your child requires special considerations, please speak with the Public Programs Manager personally, well in advance of your child’s first day of camp. Arrangements must be made prior to the beginning of camp without exception. Can my child enroll in the same camp as their friends? We make every effort to accommodate requests for campers to be in the same group as their friends. Please list names of friends your child would like to be in a camp session with and as long as all of the children have registered for the same camp, during the same week, time and age group they will be grouped together. We are not able to group children from different age groups together. How can I register my child for camp before February 18, 2014? In order to be eligible for early camp registration you need to be a Supporting Member at the $250 level. You will then be able to register on February 11.
I’m not sure what level membership I have, how can I find out? How can I upgrade my membership? Please call Lauren Cooper, Membership Manager, at (415) 339-3954 or email membership@badm.org. I’m having trouble registering online. Can I register by phone? Please confirm that you have an eligible membership level (prior to February 11), and that you have received the early registration access code located on the address label of the summer camp brochure you received in the mail. If you are still having trouble registering please call Rocio Salazar, Reservations Associate, at (415) 339-3931. Questions? Questions about camp and your child? Please call Danielle Pitchford, Public Programs Coordinator, at (415) 339-3906. Registration questions? Please call Rocio Salazar, Reservations Associate at (415) 339-3931.
Call (415) 339-3954 to upgrade and get the discount.
Family Members
Look for your exclusive discount code above your address.
Supporting Members
Fort Baker 557 McReynolds Road Sausalito, CA 94965 www.BayKidsMuseum.org