Summer Camp 2024

Hands-on House Summer Camp Volunteer Information

Hands-on House is looking for responsible, energetic, hard-working teen volunteers for our summer camp! Volunteers need to be high schoolers aged 15-18 by their volunteer date. Camp runs from 9 am – 12:15 pm.

What will volunteers be doing?

Campers are placed into groups according to age with one teacher overseeing each group. Volunteers will be placed with a group to assist the teacher in:

• supervising campers
• assisting campers during art and STEM activities
• interacting with campers during free play times
• facilitating learning activities and games
• cleaning up and resetting activity areas 
• making summer camp a fun and exciting experience for our campers!

Why should I volunteer with Hands-on House?

Hands-on House Summer Camp is a great place to get volunteer hours while making an impact in the community. If you are responsible, hard-working, and love working with kids, this is a great opportunity for you!

What dates?

Volunteers are needed for all eight week-long sessions of camp, which run from June 17 to August 16 (excluding the week of July 4th). Volunteers need to commit to at least one full week of camp and can volunteer for multiple weeks if they would like.

I want to volunteer. What do I do next?

If you would like to volunteer, click on the link at the bottom of the page. It will take you to an online application site. After creating an account, select “Teen Volunteer Application Summer Camp 2024.” Fill out and submit the application; the Camp Director will get back to you within a few weeks.

Click here to apply!

If you have any questions about volunteering, email the Camp Director Megan Stoltzfus at megan.stoltzfus@handsonhouse.org. 

Summer Camp FAQs

Frequently asked questions about registration, camp activities, and what to bring.

Registration

How much does a week of camp cost?

The cost of one week of camp is $195 per camper. An $85 non-refundable deposit is
required at registration which saves the camper’s seat. A limited number of scholarships
are offered to families who receive SNAP benefits or are experiencing financial
hardship. We also offer a $15 sibling discount.

How much are scholarships for and how do I get one?

We offer three scholarship Tiers:
Tier 1 scholarship, which reduces the price of camp to $115
Tier 2 scholarship, which reduces the price of camp to $85
Tier 3 scholarship, which reduces the price of camp to $50
We will have a limited number of scholarships available and scholarships will be
reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis, so we encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible.

How many scholarships can I receive?

Families receiving scholarships can receive scholarships for all children in their
household for one week of camp for each child. If scholarships are still available come
June 1 st , campers may receive a second scholarship on a first-come-first-served basis.

How do I register my child for camp?

Registration is done through our Campbrain link found here. Only the deposit is due upon registration.

Can I register my child for more than one week?

Yes! Campers can come to as many camp themes as they can for their age group, but cannot attend any theme more than once.

What is the cancellation policy?

An $85 deposit is due upon sign up, with the rest due at a later date. The deposit saves
the camper’s spot at camp. If a family would cancel their attendance, all but the deposit
would be refunded. A $25 rescheduling fee is charged if you would like to change the
week your camper is attending. In the event camp would be cancelled due to an
emergency or COVID-19, campers would have the option of rescheduling or receiving a
camp credit—no refunds will be issued.

Do campers need to be potty trained?

Yes, all campers need to be fully potty trained to attend camp.

My child is turning four at the end of the summer—can they still come to camp?

Campers must be four during the week they attend camp—we cannot make exceptions
for campers who are not yet four years old.

Camp Activities

What will campers be doing on an average day of camp?

Campers will rotate through four activities: STEM, art, active play (games and
playground), and museum play. In these activities, they will participate in fun, hands-on
learning activities that tie into our weekly theme.

Are campers of all ages together?

Campers are placed into groups with campers of similar age. Activities are specifically
made to be appropriate for each age group.

Can I request campers be placed in the same group?

We cannot always take camper grouping requests because campers are placed into
groups by age. If there is a specific medical or social need for siblings or friends to be
together, email your request and reason for the request to the Camp Director at
megan.stoltzfus@handsonhouse.org.

Are campers outside all day? What about exceptionally hot days?

The majority of camp is outside, but campers will also be inside every day for some
activities. On days with heat advisories, our staff will follow our heat advisory protocol to
ensure camper safety. This includes mandatory water breaks and extra time inside.

What should campers wear?

Campers should wear clothes they can get dirty in and close-toed shoes. Expect your
campers to being moving!

What should campers bring?

All campers should bring a filled water bottle labeled with their name. We ask that
sunscreen is applied before camp; our camp staff will not be able to assist campers in
putting on sunscreen.

Will I receive more information before camp starts?

Yes! The week before camp, you will receive an email that gives more details about
what to bring, what campers will be doing, and any other important information.

Safety

What is your child-to-staff ratio?

Our dedicated camp team includes museum educators, summer camp teachers, and
trained youth volunteers. The child-to-staff ratio will be 8-to-1 or smaller at camp. In
addition, museum administration and staff are on site.

How is Hands-on House ensuring the safety of campers?

Hands-on House is committed to ensuring the safety of every camper. To read about
the policies and procedures at summer camp, click here. Additionally, all camp staff are
required to participate in detailed staff training.

What is expected of campers?

Campers are expected to follow camp rules, which are outlined in our camp policies and
procedures found here. Our expectation is that your child will be able to sustain
themselves at camp with guidance from our teachers. If your child will benefit from
accommodations at camp, call or email the camp director to discuss what
accommodations camp staff are able to make.

______________________________________________________________________
_______
If you have any questions not answered by the FAQs, email the Camp Director
Megan Stoltzfus at megan.stoltzfus@handsonhouse.org.