Camps FAQ

COVID-19 Health and Safety Information

Mask policy (all locations)

The health and safety of our campers and staff remains Thinkery’s top priority. Thinkery’s 2022 camps will observe the same masking policy as our General Admission visitors. This policy is updated weekly to correspond to the latest Community Levels rating for Travis County.

During “Low” and “Medium” periods (as defined by the CDC), masks are recommended but are not required. Masks will be required only during periods where Austin/Travis County is at “High” levels of COVID risk.

The county-level ratings are updated every Thursday at 7pm CT. Our mask policy will be updated weekly to correspond to the latest Community Levels rating for Travis County. If the Thursday update changes the Travis County rating (from green to yellow, for example), Thinkery will move to the corresponding masking policy on Friday morning. 

Click here for detailed information on our health and safety policies, including the masking guidelines for each of the CDC’s Community Levels.

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
• 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.

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What safety procedures are in place during meal times?

Camp groups will eat lunches while socially-distanced in classrooms or outside (weather permitting). Don’t forget to pack two snacks per day, as we have a morning and afternoon snack time as well!

Staff will supervise meal and snack times to ensure that campers are only ever eating the food they brought with them from home

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What are Thinkery Camp hours?

Thinkery Camps – Preschool Sessions

• Monday through Friday
• Drop-off: 9:00 am
• Pick-up: 3:00 pm

Thinkery Camps – Grades K-5

• Monday through Friday
• Drop-off: 9:00 am
• Pick-up: 3:15 pm
• If you have campers in both age groups, you may pick them up together at 3:15 pm

Thinkery Camps – Aftercamp (Extended Care)

• Monday through Friday
• Pick-up: 3:30 – 5:00 pm
• Requires a separate reservation and payment.

Leander Camps – Grades K-5

• Monday through Thusday – NO Friday sessions
• Drop-off: 8:30 am
• Pick-up: 4:00 pm

Who are the camp staff?

The staff members in each camp room are excited, caring, and creative people. They have a passion and joy for sharing the innovation process with your camper.

We maintain a minimum of 1 staff to 10 campers ratio for K-5 campers, and a staff to campers ratio of 1:8 for preschool sessions. Campers will be escorted as a group to and from the bathroom by a Thinkery staff member.

Our staff goes through a multi-stage interview process including reference and national background checks. Those that meet our standards and maintain Thinkery values are invited to join the Thinkery team. Once hired, every Thinkery Camp staff member receives training on Thinkery’s learning philosophy and caregiving standards, with CPR and first aid training for key staff members.

After training, staff receive ongoing supervision and feedback provided by the Camp Management Team.

We are very proud of our dedicated and accomplished Thinkery Camp staff.

How does Thinkery maintain safety during free play in the museum?

Campers are always limited to one exhibit space at a time during free play in Thinkery. They also wear camp shirts, so they are more visible to camp staff.

Additionally, all campers may enjoy a portion of free play before Thinkery is open to the general public.

How do you handle the grade distinction in the summer?

The grades posted for each camp indicate the grade level your child will enter in the 2022–23 school year.

Camps are broken into three age/grade ranges: Preschool, K-2, and 3-5.

Thinkery will host camps for Pre-K to 5th grade at the Meredith Learning Lab. All other camp locations are for Kindergarten-5th grade students only.

Is there a minimum age for Thinkery Camps?

Yes, campers must be 4 years old by the month before their camp begins in order to participate in our camp program. This age restriction is in place to ensure the success of each individual camper.

Little Thinkers Preschoolers may enter camps as a 3-year-old if they have successfully completed a school year with Thinkery as a Little Thinker.

Do Thinkery Camps serve children with special needs?

Although Thinkery Camps are not specifically designed to accommodate children with special needs, we make every reasonable effort to serve campers who require special attention or consideration.

If you are interested in enrolling a child with special needs, please contact the Camp Management team (contact information below) and set up a meeting to evaluate our program’s suitability for your child. We also welcome camper aides, but require all aides who attend camp to complete a background check before camp begins.

If your child has a special need or a life-threatening allergy, please contact the Camp Management Team to discuss their needs before the camper’s first day. We want to prepare Thinkery Camp staff and educators in advance so we can make your child’s camp experience as safe as possible.

Contact information: thinkerycamps@thinkeryaustin.org

What is your cancellation policy?

Camp fees include a $75 non-refundable fee. Refunds (minus the $75 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 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.

• Little Thinkers Preschool families who register with the 9-week bundle will pay a non-refundable deposit of $675 on the date of registration. 50% of the remaining balance will be charged to the credit card on file on June 1, 2002. The remaining 50% will be charged on July 1, 2022.
• Payment (minus the nonrefundable deposit) can be stopped before May 6, 2022. After May 6, the payment process will go into our system and the credit card on file will be charged in full over the course of the summer. 

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.

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

If you are interested in booking additional camp weeks, please call (512) 469-6201 or register online! The camp you sign up for is uniquely yours—sessions are not transferable to other campers.

What is included in the price of my child’s Thinkery Camp?

Your camp registration includes 30 hours of Thinkery Camp fun and learning, including hands-on activities. Your registration also includes one Thinkery Camp t-shirt, and access to the museum exhibits.

Can I transfer my Thinkery Camp session to a different week?

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.

If you are interested in booking additional camp weeks, please call (512) 469-6201 or register online. 

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. The only option you will see will be to select the “Waitlist.” If you would like to be placed on the waitlist for a particular session, please complete the registration process with that option selected. (You will not be asked for payment when making a waitlist reservation).

If a spot becomes available, you will be contacted and charged the full tuition fee at that time.

Do you offer extended care options?

Yes!  Aftercamp (extended care) will be offered this year for camps at our Thinkery location. Aftercamp has a limited weekly capacity and requires an additional payment of $75 per week per camper.  Aftercamp will operate until 5:00pm when camps is closed. 

Will my child experience a field trip while attending Thinkery Camp?

Yes. Every camper at Thinkery will enjoy a field trip to the Mueller Lake Park, located across the street from the museum. Attendees at our offsite locations will have the opportunity to get on a bus to visit Thinkery explore all of the exhibits.

Do you offer financial assistance? How do I apply?

Thinkery’s Open Door Initiative provides free and discounted admission to Thinkery and our inspirational play-based learning programs, including Thinkery Camp. If you are interested in applying for financial assistance, you can learn more about the application process on our Registration and Pricing page

Please note: Financial assistance is available on a limited basis. Unfortunately, we are not able guarantee aid to everyone who applies for it.

What do I need to submit to be applicable for financial assistance?

Each interested applicant must submit a completed application and be prepared to show proof of qualification upon request. Application details can be found on our Registration and Pricing page.

When is the deadline for financial assistance applications?

Applications must be received by March 21, 2022 for all Thinkery 2022 summer camps. Financial assistance applicants will be notified by April 18, 2022. For more information on financial assistance, please contact scholarships@thinkeryaustin.org.

How can I donate to your financial assistance program?

If you are interested in helping make Thinkery Camps a possibility for all, you can donate to our Open Door Intitiative here. Your tax-deductible donation will help make Thinkery’s innovative, hands-on STEAM programs available to more aspiring campers with a demonstrated financial need.

Click here to make a donation online or call our Reservations team at 512-469-6201 for assistance.

What is your tax ID number?

74-228-8789

What options are there for my teenager at Thinkery Camp?

Unfortunately, due to health and safety protocols, Thinkery will not be offering our VolunTeen program for 2022 summer camps.

I still have questions. What next?

Not a problem, we’re here to help! Email us at reservations@thinkeryaustin.org or call us at 512-469-6201. Your calls and questions are very important to us, and we will respond to all requests in the order they are received, typically within one to three (1-3) business days.