Summer Camp

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 $245 for our Adventurers camp and $210 for our Young Explorers camp. A $100 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. We also offer a $25 sibling discount.

 

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

Scholarships reduce the price of camp to $100 per camper per week for both our Adventurers and Young Explorers camps. If you receive a scholarship, a $100 deposit is due upon registration and the scholarship will cover the rest of the cost of camp. We expect to have 20 scholarships available. In the event that a qualified applicant does not receive a scholarship, the deposit will be refunded. Apply for a scholarship at this link.

 

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! We recommend coming to more than one theme. Campers are welcome to come to the same theme twice, but they will be doing the same activities.

 

What is the cancellation policy?

A $100 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.

 

What happens if it thunderstorms?

In the event of thunderstorms or severe weather during camp hours, camp will move inside. However, due to space constraints, we cannot hold a full day of camp inside the museum. If it is forecasted to thunderstorm during camp hours, camp will move inside for morning and afternoon half-day sessions. More information about weather will be sent to registered families closer to camp.

 

Do campers need to be potty trained?

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

 

Can my four-year-old come to the Adventurers camp?

No—four-year-olds can only attend our half-day Young Explorers camp.

 

Camp Activities

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

Campers will rotate through four activity zones every day: STEM zone, art zone, adventure zone, and play zone. In these zones, they will participate in fun, hands-on learning activities. Campers will also have playground time and free play activity time. For more information about what campers will be doing, check out our camp overview.

 

Are campers of all ages together?

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

 

Can I request campers be placed in the same group?

We do not take camper group 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 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 short portions. On days with heat advisories, campers will spend extra time inside, be given extra water breaks, and have optional water play to keep them cool. 

 

What to Bring

Lunch and snacks

An assortment of snacks are provided to campers. All full day campers should bring a packed lunch. Refrigerators are not available, so any cold items should be placed in a lunchbox with an ice pack. 

 

What else should campers bring?

• Water bottle
• Change of clothes
• Hat/sunglasses (optional)
• Sunscreen (optional)
• Towel (on water days)
• Flip-flops or sandals for water play (optional)

We highly recommend that all items be placed in a bag or backpack and labeled with the child’s name.

 

What should campers NOT bring?

• Toys
• Electronics
• Stuffed animals

Campers are not allowed to bring their own toys to camp. If they do, they will be asked to put them away in their backpacks. 

 

What should campers wear?

Campers should wear clothes they can get dirty in and close-toed shoes. On water days, campers should either wear clothes they can get wet or wear their bathing suit under their clothes. Campers will not be able to change before or after water.

 

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 plan for severe weather?

In the event of severe weather, all children will be moved inside the museum. If the weather is forecasted to continue for one hour or more, parents/guardians will be notified to pick up campers within 30 minutes. Due to space constraints, we cannot hold a full day of camp inside the museum. 

 

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. 

 

What is expected of campers?

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

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Download the camp policies and procedures here!

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

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 pm for the first two weeks of camp, then 9 am – 2 pm for the last six weeks.

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 12 to August 11 (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 2023.” 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.