Discovery Camps Brochure 2015 by Bay Area Discovery Museum

Spring and Summer 2015

Welcome to another amazing year of Discovery Camps! It is my pleasure to welcome you all to our 2015 summer camp season. This year will be filled with camps for children ages 3 – 8 as they share in non-stop exploration and fun. Join us and choose from our 15 topics consisting of a variety of themes from Shipwrecks and Treasure Hunts to Fort Building. Museum staff look forward to seeing our old friends and welcoming the new! At the end of each camp, we send out surveys to all of our devoted camp families to ask for feedback regarding their experiences. This feedback informs our newest offerings, which we are pleased to present for summer 2015: • New location! We are excited to announce the Palace of Fine Arts as our newest venue for a brand new camp conveniently located in San Francisco. The camp will take advantage of the space with our own developmentally appropriate, child-directed activities to nurture innovation and creativity. See page 10 for details. • More school-aged options! To ensure camp availability for all ages, we attempt to watch registration trends to anticipate the following year’s attendees. This year we will offer two more morning options for school age campers; one mixed age and one school age. This will allow families with children of multiple age groups to attend camp together.

Register Early! Priority Registration* Donor Circle Registration opens Friday, February 6 Supporting Family Registration opens Tuesday, February 10 *Exclusive access codes will be sent to you via email by 8:00 a.m. on the day your registration opens.

General Registration General Registration opens Tuesday, February 17 Call (415) 339-3954 or visit BayKidsMuseum.org/membership to join as a Donor Circle or Supporting Family Member today!

Questions? Please see the Frequently Asked Questions at the end of the brochure.

small classes

• New All Outdoor Camp! Children will be able to engage in activities as investigators who solve mysteries, archeologists who look for artifacts, geologists who examine rocks, oceanographers who discover the shores, historians who learn about the past and collaborators on a journey to explore the unknown. See page 7 for more information. • New expanded age group for Junior Counselors! We continue into our second year of the successful Junior Counselor program, and will be expanding the age group to 9 – 14-year-olds. See page 12. In our camps, we offer children the freedom of child-directed, open-ended learning through play. Our natural surroundings provide children a unique local environment to enrich their investigation of the surrounding world as they seek out new experiences. Children will leave here with a sense of belonging and new lifelong tools to support them with future discoveries. We truly value your feedback and support. Please feel free to call us directly if you have questions or concerns at any time. We cannot wait to see you all this summer! Sincerely,

Danielle Pitchford Enrichment Programs Manager (415) 339-3906

Hannah Boston Camps Coordinator (415) 339-3907

BIG F UN

Spring Camps

Summer Discovery Camps

March 30 – April 17

June 1 – August 21 About Discovery Camps

Fort Building March 30 – April 3 Children ages 4 – 8 Full day only, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. General $450 Supporting Members $425 $20 extra material fee Join our experienced educators as they take children on a building adventure using real tools and building materials to support their imaginations. Children will create forts, stories, and props as they transform their classroom into a secret world.

Camps are organized by grade level to meet the developmental needs of the children. Please note: Children must be ready to attend camp without a parent or guardian.

Preschool Camp

School-aged Camps

3 year olds who are currently enrolled in a preschool program. Children enrolled in the Preschool Camp must be 3 years old by June 1, 2015 and must have experience being dropped off in a childcare setting prior to attending. We are not able to accept children in diapers or pull-ups.

Children who are entering first, second and third grade (1/2/3) in the fall of 2015.

Mixed Ages Camps Children who are eligible for Pre-kindergarten or School-aged Camps.

Pre-kindergarten Camps Children ages 4 and 5 who have not yet completed Kindergarten.

Art Attack April 13 – 17 Children ages 4 – 8 Full day only, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. General $450 Supporting Members $425 Discover your inner artist and express yourself through paint, sculpture, natural objects, recycled materials, and our very popular messy art curriculum. Each day focuses on introducing new techniques and exploring a variety of fun, basic media. Children in this camp will explore the artistic process no matter how messy they may get — and they do get messy!

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BayKidsMuseum.org/camps

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.

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.

Summer Camp Sampler Mixed Ages* 1 – 4 p.m. Back by popular demand is our afternoon camp which features highlights from our best camp themes. Each afternoon, children will experience our favorite camp activities as they explore 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. 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 Experiments 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 explore 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 Children will explore their artistic potential as they experience different media through 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 explore physical expression through dance, obstacle courses, yoga and other movement-based activities. *Please note: 3-year-old children are not eligible for the afternoon sessions.

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Water Wonders

On the Bay

Pre-kindergarten

Roll up your sleeves and get ready to get wet (swimsuit not required). Explore the wonders of water through scientific investigation, art activities and so much water play. Campers will do science experiments and go on adventures to find out all they can about H2O.

Investigate local animals and search the shores for hidden treasures in this signature Bay Area Discovery Museum Camp. Take on the persona of bugs, fish, plants and birds, exploring the natural bay environments through hiking, experiments and hands-on discovery.

Creature Creations Pre-kindergarten What has wings, fur and sleeps during the day? An imaginary creature invented by you! Learn all about our local critter friends right here in the Bay Area and let them spark and inspire your imagination to create your own furry or feathered beast. 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!

BayKidsMuseum.org/camps

Imaginary Worlds: Witches, Wizards, Knights and Princesses Pre-kindergarten Additional $10 materials fee 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 their own imaginations. Using an interdisciplinary approach, campers will set the scene for an original production and make their own costumes, learn science while making potions, and build confidence as they act out their own character. Family and friends will be invited at the end of the week to view the camper’s performance.

Outdoor Explorers

NEW!

Mixed Ages Additional $10 materials fee This exclusive all outdoor camp brings out the natural scientist in your child. Children will explore and investigate the local environment as teachers guide them through the scientific method to make and test predictions and share exciting findings. Campers will visit local sites such as beaches, hiking trails, bunkers, piers, a coast guard station and an old army barracks to enrich their hands-on adventures. Children will receive a pouch of tools that they can take home at the end of the week including a magnifying glass, binoculars, and journal.

“Caliber of program and staff are very impressive, nicely done on running a fun, well managed organization. Kids obviously love it!”

– Camps Parent, Summer 2014

Art Attack! Pre-kindergarten Explore your artistic potential and express yourself through paint, sculpture, natural objects, recycled materials, and our very popular messy art curriculum. Each day focuses on introducing new techniques and exploration of a variety of fun, basic media. Children in this camp will explore the artistic process no matter how messy they may get — and they do get messy!

School-aged Additional $20 materials fee

Mixed Ages & Pre-kindergarten

Children will have the opportunity to use real tools and building materials as they dive into design and engineering principles to bring their ideas into reality. 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. At the end of the week, families will be welcomed into the space to view the camper’s creations.

Ahoy ye scurvy landlubbers! 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. Spend five days pretending to be sailors embarking on a historic voyage of discovery and adventure!

Super Heroes and Heroines Mixed Ages & Pre-kindergarten Additional $10 materials fee Look, up in the sky! It’s you! Let’s explore your inner superhero or heroine! Are you ready to save the world? Well, put on your cape and let’s go! Campers will work with the instructors to create superhero costumes and masks and invent worlds where your hero saves helpless creatures and entire planets from menacing forces. We will invite family and friends to watch our great feats of strength and bravery on the last day of camp.

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Fort Building

Shipwrecks and Treasure Hunts

Inventing with Art School-aged Experience our art and innovation camp just for big kids! Campers will explore interdisciplinary art techniques as they work together to create an 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.

BayKidsMuseum.org/camps

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 1, 2015.

Pre-kindergarten Camps: Children ages 4 and 5 who are attending preschool or who will be attending kindergarten in the fall of 2015.

Summer Camp Schedule

School-aged Camps: Children who are entering first, second and third grade in the fall of 2015.

Week 2

Mixed Ages: Children who are eligible for pre-kindergarten or school-aged camps.

Big Discoveries

Art Attack!

On the Bay

Shipwrecks and Treasure Hunts

Fort Building

Outdoor Explorers

Summer Camp Sampler

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 1

June 1 – 5

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p.m.

Big Discoveries Shipwrecks and Treasure Hunts

Week 5

June 29 – July 3

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p.m.

June 8 – 12

July 6 – 10

Week 3 a.m.

a.m.

p.m.

June 15 – 19

July 13 – 17

Week 4 a.m.

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p.m.

June 22 – 26

July 20 – 24

Big Discoveries

Art Attack!

Super Heroes and Heroines

Bugs, Insects and Spiders

Summer Camp Sampler

Super Heroes and Heroines

Fort Building

Inventing with Art

Outdoor Explorers

Summer Camp Sampler

Week 10

Week 11

Week 12

Week 9

July 27 – 31

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p.m.

August 3 – 7

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p.m.

August 10 – 14

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p.m.

August 17 – 21

Big Discoveries

Water Wonders

Shipwrecks and Treasure Hunts

Creature Creations

Imaginary Worlds

Inventing with Art

Outdoor Explorers

Summer Camp Sampler

a.m.

p.m.

a.m.

p.m.

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p.m.

NEW!

Palace of Innovation CAMP June 1 – August 21

School-aged Week 1 – Week 12 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Camp Fees: $425/week Supporting Family Members $450/week General

Drop off and pickup outside the Palace of Fine Arts. Extended care not available.

A new camp at the Palace of Fine Arts! Join the Bay Area Discovery Museum as we celebrate the anniversary of the PanamaPacific International Exposition, for which the Palace of the Fine Arts was initially built. This new environment — paired with the Museum’s open-ended, child-directed educational philosophy — will nurture creativity and curiosity. Teachers will meet needs of the mixed age classroom using an emergent and project-based approach to curriculum. Children are welcome to attend multiple weeks, since each week’s adventures will be unique and exciting as we work together as a cohesive group to explore the countless possibilities offered at this exciting location.

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Day 1: History Children and teachers will investigate the local architecture, environment and surrounding neighborhoods, documenting their findings in various forms. Day 2: Building and Engineering Children will use information gathered from day one to create replicas and design models. They will have the opportunity to use real tools and a variety of fascinating mediums. Day 3: Environment Head down to the beach and the grassy fields to search for and discover bugs, sea creatures and the brilliance of local plants. Children will have time to wonder about the local natural environment and observe Fort Baker while sorting, building sand castles, flying kites, and documenting. Day 4: Maker Challenge Explore the exhibits within the Palace of Fine Arts and be inspired by the makers and innovators who share the space. Use the information gathered to direct new projects and express your inner creativity. Day 5: Culminating Exhibit Children will be challenged to present their findings and hard work of the week as they collaborate to make their very own exhibit. Families and friends will then have an opportunity to join the community for the last hour of camp to celebrate the week of adventures and fun as the children’s exhibits are unveiled.

BayKidsMuseum.org/camps

Junior Counselor Program

Children ages 9 through 14 years old Fees: $175 per week (includes snacks and staff t-shirt) 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! Each Junior Counselor will be paired with an adult staff member in a preschool or pre-kindergarten morning 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 Junior Counselor will get their very own official staff t-shirt!

Love our camps? Check out

Not-A-School Preschool Creative Enrichment Preschool

September – May 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 2 day (T/TH), 3 day (MWF) or 5 day (M – F) program options available 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 2015 (2015 – 2016 school year) are now available. To apply, go to BayKidsMuseum.org/notaschool and complete the online form. Please contact Elisa Pagliarulo at (415) 339-3982 or epagliarulo@badm.org for more information. Facility number 214005255

Happy Campers Happy Parents

“They teach Fort Building campers to respect serious tools, which fosters self-guided responsibility in using potentially dangerous tools and yet encourages the children to be children. It’s absolutely perfect!”

“For three years this has been my son’s #1 favorite camp. The instructors are fabulous. My boy is hoping to come back next year as a junior counselor.”

“It is a very high quality camp -- not just like ‘day care’ the way some camps are. It’s creative and fun and the counselors are great.”

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“Just a big thank you. It was great to have our son so interested in what he was doing. He clearly learned a lot and is asking now when he can return!”

BayKidsMuseum.org/camps

Camp Hours AM sessions: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Camp

How to Register

Information

PM sessions: 1 – 4 p.m. Palace of Innovation: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Extended Care Hours

Before care: 8 – 9 a.m. Extended care from 1 – 2 p.m. (registration for full week only)

After care: 4 – 5 p.m. Not available for Palace of Innovation

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 Family 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

Refund Policy 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 May 1 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.

E-mail Confirmation Camp billing statements, confirmations and important information will be sent via email. If you do not receive these emails, please call (415) 339-3931 to confirm the correct email address is on file.

50% Refund deadlines for each session: Week 7: June 22 Week 1: May 11 Week 8: June 29 Week 2: May 18 Week 9: July 6 Week 3: May 25 Week 10: July 13 Week 4: June 1 Week 11: July 20 Week 5: June 8 Week 6: June 15 Week 12: July 27

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.

Medical Forms You must inform us of any special medical concerns ahead of time; please contact the Enrichment Programs Manager personally prior to the first day of your child’s 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.

Camp Fees (per session)

Lunch Please pack your child’s lunch; lunch is not provided.

Snack AM Sessions 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Includes supervised lunchtime

$325/week Supporting Family Members $350/week General

PM Sessions 1 – 4 p.m. Summer Camp Sampler $150/week Supporting Family Members $175/week General

We provide a nutritious snack during each camp session. Please note that campers with food allergies or sensitivities must bring their own snack. Camp snacks are generously donated by Clif Kid.

Discovery Camp T-shirts Extended Care Fees $35 per child each week for either morning OR afternoon care $70 per child each week for both morning and afternoon care $10 per hour per single day

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Materials Fees $20 Fort Building $10 Imaginary Worlds $10 Super Heroes and Heroines $10 Outdoor Explorers

Each camper will receive a 100% cotton t-shirt included with your camp fees. Limit of one t-shirt per camper.

Toys Please leave stuffed animals, trading cards, and other toys at home. Toys brought to camp often become lost or damaged.

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 be there to meet you. Please make every effort to arrive promptly at your pick-up time. Authorized adults must sign-out children. Please bring a photo ID when you, or your child’s caregivers, pick up your child.

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.

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. Scholarships are awarded in the order received based on need. Please submit scholarship requests before May 4, 2015. 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. To apply, complete the scholarship form at BayKidsMuseum.org/campscholarship.

Become a Supporting Family Member You can receive discounts on your camp fees by becoming a Supporting Family Member at the $250 level or above, online or when registering by phone. 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. BayKidsMuseum.org/camps

Frequently Asked questions 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. You will be asked to provide the name of the program they are currently enrolled in upon registration. There are no exceptions to this policy. School-age children who are home-schooled may still be able to enroll in camp, please call the Enrichment Programs Manager if you have any questions about this policy.

Can children under the age of 4 attend 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.

Is lunch care optional? No, all of our half day camps run from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and include lunchtime. Children will eat in their classrooms with instructors and fellow campers.

Is there lunch provided? There is no lunch provided. Please pack a lunch and water bottle for your child’s camp day.

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 Enrichment 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.

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.

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.

Who are the camp instructors? All of the Lead Instructors are preschool teachers, or have a strong background in child development and experience working with young children. Our counseling staff is made up of dedicated young adults, many of whom played at the Bay Area Discovery Museum when they were little, and have previous experience working with children.

Please confirm that you have an eligible membership level and we have your email address (prior to February 10). Early registration access code will be sent via email by 8:00 a.m. on the day your registration opens. If you are still having trouble registering please call our Reservations Associate at (415) 339-3931.