Thinkery Camps
Our camps provide a creative, safe and challenging environment for campers to learn and grow—and have a whole lot of fun while they’re doing it!
In-person camps begin Monday, June 15
Thinkery is pleased to announce that in-person camp sessions at the Meredith Learning Lab will begin on Monday, June 15.
We have confirmed that Thinkery’s new guidelines and operating protocols meet or exceed the standards outlined by the CDC, State authorities and Austin Public Health.
Families looking for an alternative, at-home experience can check out our new Do/Make/Create STEAM Activity Packs, which include 10 age-appropriate STEAM activities, step-by-step instructions and all the necessary supplies.
Thinkery is doing our part to keep our community healthy and safe from COVID-19. While there is no 100% effective way to prevent illnesses, we’ve taken a number of steps to make our in-person camps as clean and safe a learning environment as possible.
There are additional steps that YOU can take to help us keep Thinkery a clean, safe, and healthy environment.
What we’re doing
Changes to programming
- Thinkery Camps will only be held at the Meredith Learning Lab location in Mueller. We are cancelling off-site sessions at Harmony Schools and Silicon Labs, as well as ALL sessions scheduled for June at National Instruments. Thinkery may resume camps originally scheduled at National Instruments in July and August if the safety protocols outlined below can safely be replicated at that location.
- We will no longer offer morning or afternoon extended care options, due to the need to maintain social distancing and separation between camp groups.
Social Distancing Measures
- The museum will be closed to general admission visitors during camp hours until further notice.
- Reduced camp group sizes to 9 children to 1 staff ratio; 10-person limit per room.
- Groups will not be combined, interact, or use any of the same spaces at the same time throughout the day.
- Camp groups will be held in separate spaces throughout the museum to accommodate reduced class sizes.
- Six feet social distancing within groups implemented to the degree possible.
- Field trips to community partner locations and guest presentations will be converted to virtual experiences where possible or removed from the schedule altogether.
- If state and local regulations permit, each group will be assigned one exhibit space per day. Disinfecting will occur between each use.
Drop off/Pick up & Health Screening at Entry
- All camper drop off and pick up will take place outside of the museum. No caregivers permitted in the building.
- Daily temperature checks and health screenings for all campers and Thinkery staff.
- Any camper showing signs of illness will be separated and caregivers will be called for pick up.
Face Masks & Handwashing
- Camp staff will be required to wear face masks.
- It is required, to the extent possible, that campers of all ages wear their own face masks.
- Handwashing will be required many times throughout the day, including after transitions and before and after eating.
Cleaning & Disinfecting Procedures
- Increased disinfecting of camp spaces, exhibits, equipment and surfaces, especially doorknobs, high-touch surfaces, and restrooms.
- Each camper will have their own set of non-consumables (scissors, tape, etc…).
What YOU can do
If your child is sick, please keep them at home
We’ll be doing daily temperature checks and health screenings for all campers, and 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.
- Practice wearing a mask 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, and make sure your camper’s paperwork if filled out and up-to-date
Observe all written instructions and directions for curbside drop-off and pick up
As always, Thinkery will continue to monitor developments and the most current guidance from State and Local health officials. Any additional changes or updates to our 2020 Summer Camps schedule will be communicated promptly through our website.
For information on pricing, please see our Registration and Pricing page. If you wish to cancel or change an existing reservation, please click here.
If you have any questions about how COVID-19 has impacted the 2020 Thinkery Camps calendar or our updated health and safety practices, please check out our Thinkery Camp FAQ.
Additional questions? Feel free to contact us at reservations@thinkeryaustin.org. Your questions are very important to us, and we will respond to all requests in the order they are received.
Interested in an at-home option?
Our new Thinkery Do/Make/Create STEAM Activity Pack is a flexible, at-home option for campers from Pre-K through 5th grade.