FAQ

To ensure that we have adequate supplies, materials, and staffing for all campers, the online registration deadline for camps will be midnight on the Wednesday before that week of camp starts. For example, the deadline for registering for the week of June 17th will be Wednesday, June 12th at midnight. Registrations made after Wednesday at midnight will incur a $30 convenience fee. 

All of our registration is done online. Please click on one of the enroll buttons at the top of any one of our pages.

Our tax ID number is 27-3857278. This number is also on your email confirmation. . Please keep this confirmation for your records. This can act as a receipt for your flexible spending account or child care tax credit. If you lose your receipt please go to the Family Account link on our Home Page and login to retrieve a new one.

Each camper should bring a NUT FREE lunch, two snacks and a water bottle every day. Club SciKidz is totally a NUT FREE camp. Sunscreen and hat is also recommended. While we can provide reminders for campers to put on sunscreen, our policies to not allow our staff to assist. We suggest “stick” sunscreen for the face and “spray” sunscreen for arms and legs. Because lunch is eaten outside at most locations, we encourage you to send an old towel with your child so they can sit on it as lunch. Please label it with their name. If your child is prone to bug bites, it may be a good idea to send bug spray with them. Electronic devices should not be brought to camp unless a camp specifically states that it can be brought for use in the camp.

We have a “no-cell phone” policy at Club SciKidz MD camps. If students need to communicate with parents throughout the day, they need to ask the director. Likewise, if parents need to contact their children throughout the day, we ask that they contact the director to pass on the message. It is better for all parties involved when communication (throughout the day) from campers at camp to parents goes through the director. Thank you for supporting us with this policy.

We understand that for different reasons, parents send a phone with their children. If a phone comes to camp, it should be on silent/off and stay in their backpack. It should NOT be seen throughout the day, and campers are NOT allowed to use it during “down time”, lunch or outdoor activity.

Each Monday morning you will receive a detailed, camp specific schedule (Activity Guide) for your child(ren)’s camp. Each day campers will participate in four different hands-on activities related to the theme/topic of their camp. Two activities will be held before lunch and two activities after lunch. Campers will have a snack and outdoor activity (30 minutes each) in both the morning and afternoon, as well as a 30 minute lunch around noon.

A half day option is only available for the PreK-Kindergarten group. The half day camper’s day will go from 9-1pm. Half day campers need to pack a lunch and snack.

Our camp program runs from 9:00am to 4:00pm. We give parents a 30-minute window for drop off and pick up.

• You may drop off your child off from 8:30am-9:00am. Before care starts at 8:00am, and costs $30 per week.
• Pick up is between 3:30-4:00pm. After care goes until 5:30pm and costs $60 per week. After care at our Timonium UMC location, aftercare ends at 5:00pm and costs $45 for the week. Campers who are not signed up for after care and not picked up by 4:00pm will be added to after care for a fee of $18 per day. After care campers must be picked up by 5:30pm (5:00pm for Timonium). There will be a late fee (per child) for campers not picked up by 5:30pm (5:00pm at Timonium). The fee is $5 for the first ten minutes and then $1 for each additional minute.

We have extended day services at all of our locations. The cost is $30.00 per week for Before Care which starts at 8:00 am. Campers cannot be dropped off prior to 8:00 am. After care services are from 4:00 – 5:30 pm and cost $60.00 dollars per week. This year we also offer the option of purchasing before & after care by the day. At our Timonium UMC locations, after care ends at 5:00pm, and the cost is $40 per week. You can sign up for before & after care during the registration process or add by logging into your Active account as camp gets closer.

Campers that are picked up later than 5:30pm (5:00PM at  Timonium) will incur additional late charges. The fee is $5 for the first ten minutes late and $1 each additional minute thereafter. 

Each camper will receive one T-shirt with each week they register for camp. We ask that campers wear their t-shirts each day of camp, but it is of course not mandatory. Wearing the camp t-shirts builds a sense of unity and also assists keeping track of campers at locations that host multiple camps. And science can be messy, so it prevents kiddos from ruining their shirts 🙂

Club SciKidz does have an outdoor component twice each day (weather permitting, of course). Campers are provided with sports equipment and other things to play with. Use of playground and field use varies by location.

In order to gain the most from their camp experience and to not disrupt the structure of the camp,  partial weeks are not encouraged. The majority of our camps are cumulative, and activities build off of each other from day to day so missing even one day negatively impacts the camp experience. If campers do miss one or more days, there will be no pro-rated refund for days not attended.

If the camp is full, it will be marked as “Waitlist Only” when you try to register. You are welcome to sign up for the waitlist. There is no cost to sign up for the waitlist. If a space becomes available, we will contact you. You also have the capability of registering for  another camp that has space to ensure a spot at camp that week. Look on the Camp locations page to see if the camp is full before you go to the online registration service.

For the most part, we generally only have one section of each camp per week. If we do have two sections, we will split the classes up on Monday morning after campers have arrived to ensure they are in the same class. If you want to make sure campers are in the same group, you can always note it in the “Special Requests” section of the registration form.

This year it’s even easier to see and use your Active account credit! When you log into your account– be sure to use this link to log in: https://campsself.active.com/clubscikidzmaryland — your family credit will appear on the homepage. To use it, simply click the “use to” book. Click here for step by step directions with screen shots.

https://support.activenetwork.com/camps/articles/en_US/Article/New-How-to-Use-Credit-Balance-Online-account

Prices for our full day camp start at $359. Some camps have an added Lab Fee, but the fee is already included in the price you see listed with the camp.  These are camps that have an extraordinary amount of project supplies. Many of our robot and advanced science and technology camps have such fees. Some camps also have different prices depending on location based upon our rent structure at that school or church.

Discounts will be offered from Cyber Monday when registration opens through the end of February. Our biggest discount is our Cyber Monday discount of $40 off per week of full-day camp (not applicable at Key School or Bullis School). Discounts will decrease as we get closer to the summer. No extra discounts are offered after March.

We always offer multi-week and sibling discounts. You receive $10 off the second and additional child per week for the sibling discount and $10 off the second and additional camp for a camper for the multi-week discount. These discounts are cumulative and are applied automatically when camps are registered for at the same time.

A military discount is offered. Contact us to provide proof and receive the discount code.

Every year Club SciKidz makes available a large number of scholarships for our camps with our Shelby Jean scholarship program. These are 100% scholarships to families that need assistance providing the camp experience for their children. Requirements require a completed application including a paragraph explaining your financial circumstances, a reference from your child’s teacher, and a brief letter from your child expressing their desire to attend our science and technology camps. One scholarship per family please!

Please click here to download the application and start the scholarship process.

Yes, as long as the request is made at least two weeks ahead of time, we will  accommodate your request as long as there is space available in the new camp or location. If there is a difference in price, you will be responsible for paying the difference or you will receive a credit, whichever is the case. There is no additional registration fee to change camps. Your request must be in writing (email: sciencecamps@clubscikidzmd.com).

Summer 2024 Flexible Cancellation Policy: 

Just like last summer, we are committed to operating the 2024 camp season for you and your family. As always, we provide you some comfort and flexibility when enrolling in camp for 2024 with our flexible cancellation policy.

If you enroll in camp and your plans change or you have concerns about your child attending camp this summer, you can cancel and receive a refund or credit according to our policy. Our policy encourages early decisions so as not to affect other customers or our ability to efficiently deliver our programs and is based on the fact that supplies are purchased for your child in March. Because we cover registration fees for you, all cancellations for a refund will incur a $30 cancellation fee (per camp) to cover administrative costs.

Our cancellation policy is as follows:

• Receive a full refund (minus the $30 cancellation fee) through March 31, 2024.
• Receive a 75% refund April 1, 2024– May 31, 2024. No refunds will be given after May 31st, 2024.
• Starting June 1, 2024, cancellations will receive a full credit as long as the cancellation is made at least two weeks in advance of the camp start date. This credit can be used for a different week of camp during the summer or camp in the future. Cancellations made within two weeks of the camp start date are not eligible for credits or refunds for any reason. There are no refunds or credits for missed sessions due to illness, family emergencies or for campers who prove unsuccessful in the camp setting due to behavior or other reasons.
• Please note that camps purchased with account credit can only be issued an account credit in the event that you’d like to cancel.
• Account credit can only be used towards camps and programs in the future. It is notrefundable for cash at some point in the future, regardless of circumstances.

Cancellations must be made via email (sciencecamps@clubscikidzmd.com) by the cut-off date or at least two weeks in advance, whichever is applicable.

Yes, most FSA funds can be used to pay for camp tuitions, as long as the funds are from the year that the camp occurs. There is usually paperwork that you need to bring to camp so that we can verify and sign the form. To ensure that your FSA funds can be used for summer camp, please check with your bank/program before registering.

For Summer 2024, we are offering the following NEW camps:

• • Little Med Academy; Pre Kindergarten-Kindergarten
  • Jr. American Doll Adventures; 1st-3rd grade
  • Jr. Vet;  1st-3rd grade

The following camps were new within the last two years:

• Jr. Entomologist; 1st-3rd grade
• Minecraft Game Design (Revised for Summer 2023); 1st-3rd grade

Check out our full course offerings by age group to see all that we have to offer!

Our camps are for children and teens ages 4-15. For Summer 2023, we will be using grade levels instead of age groups to classify camps. When deciding which camp is best for your child(ren), remember to select the grade that they will be in for the 2024-2025 school year. 

For our youngest campers (PreK-K/4-5 yr old), all campers MUST be FULLY potty trained by the time they attend camp. Our program is a structured setting, and we have found that campers who have attended structured preschools and nursery schools tend to be more successful than those who have not attended such programs or have only attended day care. It should also be noted that there is NO nap time, and unfortunately we cannot accommodate campers who need a nap. Refunds cannot be given for younger campers who prove to be unsuccessful in our camp.

Club SciKidz carefully considers the age range for each course as we receive feedback from our instructors, parents, and campers, but at the same time we understand that every child is different. When children are close to the next age group, we allow parents the flexibility in deciding which camp is best for their child. It is important to note that some technology courses require some experience and prerequisite skills, so this should be considered when making the decision. Feel free to give us a call if you’d like some information on which camps might be best for your child.

Please note that you will see some camps listed in the 4th-6th grade (9-12yrs)  and 6th-8th grade (11-15 yrs) categories. As children move towards middle school age, parents can choose to place their child in either group depending on the child’s abilities and experience with the subject matter. However, be aware that the 11-15 year old group is often on the higher end of the age range, and some younger campers may not be as comfortable with this group as others.

Safety is our number one goal at Club SciKidz. All of our campers are supervised 100% of the time. All staff undergo three background checks, are screened and attend training. The training includes but is not limited to classroom management, emergency procedures, abuse prevention & reporting, and Club SciKidz procedures. The majority of our staff is CPR & First Aid certified. Our site directors are experienced certified teachers who are not only first aid and CPR certified but have received Medication Administration Training.

The majority of our camp locations have locked exterior doors. Club SciKidz follows the procedures of the host location concerning keeping doors locked and entry into the building. Parents are asked to only use designated doors and to check in with the director upon entering the building. Parents and other adults are not permitted to wander the building or walk unescorted throughout the building.

A large component of our safety measures is our dismissal process. We use the PikMyKid app which gives parents the ability to designate people to pick up their children if they are unable to do. It is all done through a secure app, to ensure that only those you designate are allowed to pick up your child(ren). Parents and others will be unable to pick up campers without the app or without being designated by the “primary parent”.

We do not allow cell phones and other electronic devices at camp. If parents choose to allow their child to bring them, they should be kept in backpacks and unseen throughout the camp day. Cell phones should not be used throughout the day– even breaks, lunch and outdoor activities. If instructors and directors see them, they may be confiscated and returned to the parent at dismissal.

Because of the severity and number of peanut and nut allergies, we are a Nut Free Zone. Please do NOT send peanut or tree nut products in your child’s lunch or snacks. If you accidentally send something with peanuts or nuts, your child will be permitted to eat apart from other students. We’ll also provide a reminder on the first occurrence.

For specifics about our Health and Wellness Policy, please see the Health and Wellness Resource page.

If your child has to be given medications (including emergency medicines such as Epi Pens and inhalers) at camp you must fill out our medical form and take that form to camp on the first day. The form MUST be signed by the prescribing physician and the parent and all [applicable] sections of the forms must be filled out. All medications must be given to our Camp Director at check-in. The medication must be in original containers that identify the prescribing physician (if a prescription drug), the name of the medication, the dosage and the frequency of administration.

Download Medical Form

Safety measures include:

• Outdoor activities can be shortened or held earlier in the day if needed. Outdoor activities will also be shortened as needed.
• Children at all camp sites will have regular access to water fountains or drinking water taps. Campers should remember to bring their own water bottles and to fill up throughout the day.
• Club SciKidz counselors will plan lower activity games/activities when the sun is the strongest and will take advantage of shaded areas throughout the day.
• We are a licensed youth camp in the state of Maryland. As a result we cannot apply sunscreen but will encourage your child to use sunscreen. Additionally please administer sunscreen prior to dropping off your camper.

Club SciKidz camps are blanketed with a variety of insurance policies.

Our pledge is to put your children in the company of the most trustworthy and capable adults we can hire- instructors and counselors who are well suited to the task of caring for campers. The effort we put into screening and selecting our staff is part of that pledge. Our staff work with your children in the context of a visible, well scrutinized environment that has many built-in checks and balances. Counselors are supervised by the Camp Directors guided by clear, firm policies regarding behavior. Their actions are visible to co-workers and campers.

All of our camp directors are certified teachers currently working in the classroom. Our lead instructors are either certified teachers or Jr. & Sr. college students. Our college-aged employees come from the best local and out-of-state universities and colleges. Each employee experiences an intense background and reference check. Our goal is to hire as many science, math, engineering, computer science and education majors as we can. We hire some high school students to serve as Jr. Counselors who assist lead instructors and counselors.

Employees receive in-person training before the camp season begins. The training includes the Club SciKidz’s Camp Staff Training Package, where we  provide all staff with foundational knowledge in the areas of camp-centered leadership, creating community, reducing injuries and illness, bullying prevention, risk management, and recognizing and reporting child abuse.

On the online registration form, please list all health concern, allergies and medications that need to be administered. The more information you provide, it more it enables us to ensure that your child has a successful and safe experience. It is also helpful for you to speak with the director on Monday morning to bring any specific details to their attention. They have access to and review all health concerns and information each week, but talking with them is the best way to ensure your camper has a successful experience. Any medications (must be in their original containers) and need to be turned in to the director on the first day of camp with a completed and signed Medication Administration Authorization form.

Epi-Pens must be given to the Camp Director on Monday mornings. Epi Pens are not allowed to be kept in the camper’s classroom or on the person of the camper unless they have permission from the prescribing physician to self carry. In this case, the “self-carry portion” of the Medication Administration Authorization form will need to be filled out and signed by the prescribing physician.

NOTE: Some of our camps do use food in some of the experiments. If your child has allergies or dietary restrictions, please bring it to the attention of the site director on Monday morning as well as putting it all on the registration form.

Club SciKidz instructors are trained to handle special circumstances to a limited extent. We have found that if children are able to function without an aide at school, they generally are successful at camp. If your child does require an aide at school, you must ensure that an aide accompanies your child to camp. All aids must be at least 18 years of age and not related to the camper. Over the years we have had many children with special needs, and they usually do very well. However, if for some reason it is determined that camp is not a suitable sit for your child, the total tuition for camp is non-refundable per our cancellation policy. To find out with our programs meets your child’s needs, please feel free to give us a call. We are happy to discuss your child and our programs.

So that you have all of the information you need for you and your child to be prepared for camp, we’ve created a Summer 2024 Camp Information packet for you. You can find it in the Forms & Resources link at the bottom of the page. It’s also here for your convenience.

Summer 2024 Camp Information packet

If you forget your password you may request it from our registration service. There will be a “forgot password” prompt on the sign-in page.