Spring Break Camp

Daily Schedule: 

• 9 AM – 9:30 AM – Drop off  
• 9:30 AM – 11 AM – Morning Activities, Movement, Gallery Exploration 
• 11 AM – 12 PM – Lunch Time 
• 12 PM – 2:30 PM – Afternoon Activities, Movement, Gallery Exploration  
• 2:30 PM – 3 PM – Community Closing and Pick up time 

Classes are limited to 20 campers and supported by a 1:10 staff-to-camper ratio, allowing educators to provide guidance, support, and meaningful engagement throughout the day. 

Tools & Camp Activities 

Tools:
Cardboard cutters (e.g., Canary tools, Zip Snips, Chomp Saws), crafting materials (hot glue, straws, dowels, brad fasteners, recycled materials)   

Activities:   

• Cut and shape cardboard pieces   
• Build freestanding cardboard structures   
• Learn simple construction and attachment techniques   
• Create sliders, spinners, levers, and other moving parts   
• Collaborate on a shared group project   
• Decorate and personalize creations   

Camp Community
Our educators are experienced in facilitating mixed-age groups and carefully tailoring activities so every camper feels challenged, supported, and successful. Campers will continue to engage with age-appropriate tools, materials, and thoughtfully planned experiences aligned with the age group they registered for.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us at thinkerycamps@thinkeryaustin.org.

Kindergarten – First Grade: 
Our younger campers will collaborate to create a giant fish tank-inspired art piece. They will design and add their own aquatic creatures, decorations, and plants to the project. Throughout the week, campers will also learn how to use tools safely and build their confidence in creating on their own.  At the end of the week, campers will have the opportunity to take home their amazing creations.  

 
Second Grade – Third Grade:  
Our older campers will engage in more open-ended building projects, focusing on various connection methods and movements, such as hinges, spinners, sliders, and levers. They will have the opportunity to design and create whatever they envision, whether it’s a structure, a creature, or a moving art piece. Campers will take home not only their creations but also valuable skills in using tools, enabling them to build independently in the future. 

In addition to these playful activities, campers will explore Thinkery galleries throughout the day! There will also be intentional time for indoor and outdoor free play and friendship-making!   

What skills will my camper gain at Thinkery Camp?   
The skills nurtured in Thinkery Camp are the durable skills children need to thrive today and in the future such as compassion, collaboration, communication, creative problem-solving, critical thinking, tool fluency, leadership, self-expression, creativity, and resiliency. 

Drop-off:
Beginning at 9:00 AM, campers may be dropped off at the east entrance of the Meredith Learning Lab (opposite the main entrance). Camp staff will greet campers and escort them up the stairs directly to their classroom.  

Pick–up:
Between 2:40 PM and 3:00 PM, campers may be picked up at the east entrance of the Meredith Learning Lab building. Camp staff will confirm the authorized adult at the entrance, then escort campers from their classrooms for pick up. 

Do you offer aftercare options?  
No, there will not be aftercare offered this year for Spring Break camps at our Thinkery – Meredith Learning Lab location.  

Two snacks (AM/PM snack time), lunch, and a water bottle. Please note: Thinkery is a nut-free space. 

Campers will move between indoor and outdoor spaces throughout the day. Please ensure campers wear closed-toe shoes for active play and bring an extra layer for indoor use if needed. 

Can I transfer my Thinkery Camp session to a different camper? 
No. The camp you sign up for is uniquely yours. Sessions are not transferable to other campers. 

What happens if the Thinkery Camp I want is full? 
You will know a Thinkery Camp session is at capacity when there is no option to select a paid reservation on the website. You will have the option to select to be notified when camp spots become available.  

Once camps are filled, a weekly email will be sent to those who select to be notified of any camp openings. Registration from that email notification will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. We cannot guarantee that spots will remain open.   

Do you offer scholarships or discounts for camp? 
While scholarships are not available for the 2026 Spring Break or Summer Camps, we encourage families to stay connected through our Flying Pig newsletter for future updates. 

Thinkery Members receive a 10% discount on Spring Break and Summer Camp registration. 

Camp fees include a $80 non-refundable fee. Refunds (minus the $80 non-refundable fee) are given for cancellations made at least two weeks prior to your camp start date. 

No refunds will be given for cancellations made less than two weeks in advance of the start date of your camp. If your child is unable to attend, the cost of your camp will be converted into a tax-deductible donation to the museum. 

If you are registered for camp and need to change weeks or sessions, there will be a $50 administrative fee once the change is approved. This request must be made at least two weeks prior to the date of the camp. 

If the camp you are registered for is canceled due to low enrollment or health and safety-mandated closure, you will be refunded your full tuition payment. 

If your child is unable to attend, the cost of your camp and/or Aftercare will be converted into a tax-deductible donation to the museum

The K–1 group is designed for campers currently in Kindergarten or first grade and is best suited for children ages 5–6. The current 2nd–3rd grade group is designed for campers currently in second or third grade and is best suited for children ages 7–8. 

How does the camp experience differ by grade level?  
The beauty of Thinkery Camp is that the experience is adjustable and scalable by age range. The themes and framework may be the same, but younger campers may spend more of their time tinkering with how things work or developing the skills to use certain tools. Whereas older campers, might dive straight in and spend more focus time making or building a project.   

If your child is sick, please keep them at home. 
Any camper showing signs of illness will be sent home. To save yourself an extra trip, it’s best to keep sick campers at home. 

Work with your camper ahead of time to practice good hygiene. 
Help your camper get familiar with important concepts like: 

• Frequent washing of hands with soap and water for at least 15-20 seconds each time 
• Avoid touching your eyes and face as much as possible 
• Maintain physical distance from other campers as much as possible 
• Cover your mouth and nose if you have to sneeze or cough. If you’re not wearing a mask, remember to cough and sneeze into your elbow (the “vampire sneeze”) or into a tissue, not into your hand. 

Read all of the caregiver information in your pre-camp packet, which will be sent out two weeks before the start date of your camp. 

Observe all written instructions and directions for curbside drop-off and pickup. 
 

What safety procedures are in place during mealtimes? 
Don’t forget to pack two snacks daily, as we also have morning and afternoon snack time! 

Staff will supervise meal and snack times to ensure campers only eat the food they brought home. 
 

At Thinkery Summer Camp, we strive to create a welcoming, safe, and engaging environment for all campers. Campers should be ready and able to actively participate in a group setting. To help our educators best support your child, we ask families to share relevant information about their camper’s needs, preferences, and strategies that work well for them.  

Accommodations We May Be Able to Offer  

• General guidance, redirection, and consistent adult support within group settings.
• Visual supports, schedules, and clear expectations.
• Movement breaks, quiet breaks, or access to calmer spaces when available within group.
• Flexible participation in activities (observing, modifying materials, shorter engagement).
• Support with transitions and routines.
• Collaboration with families when information is shared in advance.

Support We Are Not Able to Provide  

• One-on-one or dedicated staff support  
• Specialized behavioral intervention or therapeutic services  
• Continuous supervision beyond standard staff-to-camper ratios  
• Individualized programming outside the group-based camp structure  
• Medical care beyond basic first aid or medication administration per policy  

If you have further questions about supports and accommodations, please reach out to our camp team: Dena De La Paz, Director of Professional Development: ddelapaz@thinkeryaustin.org, and Ryan Murray, Senior STEAM Educator: rmurray@thinkeryaustin.org.