Camps

What kinds of activities will my camper engage in?

Our camps offer hands-on activities that empower campers to investigate science, technology, engineering, art and math as a platform for innovative thinking. Each weeklong camp provides a variety of fun mental and physical challenges that activate campers’ creativity. Each day, campers will engage in activities in the following focus areas:

Explore: Experience the amazing and intriguing scientific principles at work in the world around us. Immerse yourself in STEAM learning through interactive projects in which we discover answers by doing.

Design: Engage in the design process as we plan, create, test and improve our inventions. We celebrate fantastic failures and emphasize persistence, goal-setting and out-of-the-box innovation.

Move: Activate your body along with your mind through movement! Work as a team and problem solve through silly and engaging kinesthetic group games.

Community : Be inspired and learn alongside local innovators. Full-day onsite campers will connect with Austin thinkers and makers through field trips and guest speakers.

What does a typical day at a Thinkery onsite camp look like?

Each day, Thinkery campers engage in activities that encourage design, exploration, collaboration and movement. Activities are focused on the theme of the week.

Typical Schedule for Thinkery in Mueller:

8–9 am	Optional Extended Care (with curbside)
9–9:15 am	Curbside Drop-off
9:00–10 am	Camper’s museum—campers explore Thinkery exhibits before museum opens to the General Public
10 am-10:15 am	Morning snack and circle time.
10:15– 11:15 am	Explore or Design activity— Explore: hands-on activity that explores a new concept or principle Design: hands-on activity where campers engage in the engineering design process
11:15 am–11:45 am	Movement activity—campers work together as they learn through moving their bodies
11:45 am–12:15 pm	Lunch, outdoor play and group activities (books, games or exhibit exploration)
12:15–1:15 pm	Choice play—Less structured time to choose self-directed engineering, team building, outdoor activities, or exhibit activities
1:15–2:15 pm	Explore or Design activity— Explore: hands-on activity that explores a new concept or principle Design: hands-on activity where campers engage in the engineering design process
2:15-2:30 pm	Afternoon snack and journal reflection
2:30–3:30 pm	Group design time/group explore time/guest presenter
3:30-3:45 pm	Closing circle and journal reflection extended
3:45-4 pm	Curbside pick up
4–5:30 pm	Optional Extended Care (with curbside)

*Outlined above and below is a typical day that does not include a field trip. Field trips are typically one or two hours long with 15–30 min. travel to and from Thinkery. Field trips will most often occur on Tuesday, leaving either at 9:30 am. On days we do not have a field trip, we typically have a guest presenter, demonstration, group game or group build.

Typical schedule for all other Thinkery Camp Locations:

8–9 am	Optional Extended Care
9–9:15 am	Campers greeted by staff and checked in
9:00–10 am	Choice play—Less structured time to choose self-directed engineering, team building, and outdoor activities.
10 am-10:15 am	Morning snack and circle time.
10:15– 11:15 am	Explore or Design activity— Explore: hands-on activity that explores a new concept or principle Design: hands-on activity where campers engage in the engineering design process
11:15 am–11:45 am	Movement activity—campers work together as they learn through moving their bodies
11:45 am–12:15 pm	Lunch, outdoor play and group activities (books, games or exhibit exploration)
12:15–1:15 pm	Choice play—Less structured time to choose self-directed engineering, team building, and outdoor activities.
1:15–2:15 pm	Explore or Design activity— Explore: hands-on activity that explores a new concept or principle Design: hands-on activity where campers engage in the engineering design process
2:15-2:30 pm	Afternoon snack and journal reflection
2:30–3:30 pm	Group design time/group explore time/guest presenter
3:30-3:45 pm	Closing circle and journal reflection extended
3:45-4 pm	Camp ends—caregiver pick up
4–5:30 pm	Optional Extended Care

What is a “no waste” snack?

The request to pack “no waste” snacks is a suggestion to consider the environment when packing lunch and snacks. We will not be policing the use of disposable bags or containers, so please do whatever works best for your family. Need a suggestion? Pack crackers or fruit in a reusable container instead of a plastic bag!

How will my child be supervised?

Pre-K–K camp:

• We maintain a 1 to 6 staff to camper ratio.
• Each camp group is assigned 1 educator, 2-3 counselors, and trained volunteers.
• Campers will be escorted, as a group, to and from the bathroom by a Thinkery staff member.

Full-day camp:

• We maintain a 1 to 8 staff to camper ratio.
• Each camp group is assigned 1 educator, 2-3 counselors and trained volunteers.
• Campers will be escorted, as a group, to and from the bathroom by a Thinkery staff member.

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

Our youngest campers, Pre-K–K, are always limited to one exhibit space at a time during free play in Thinkery. Also, these campers always wear bright vests while free play is taking place so they are highly visible to Thinkery Camp staff. Our staff will maintain a 1 to 6 staff ratio while enjoying Thinkery exhibits. Additionally, Pre-K–K campers enjoy a portion of free play before Thinkery is open to the general public every day.

Free play in Thinkery for our more independent 1st–5th graders is always limited to one exhibit space at a time. Staff maintain a 1:8 ratio during exhibit exploration to ensure campers are enjoying both a safe and enriching time while in the exhibits. Our 1st–5th grade campers will also enjoy time in the museum before it is open to the general public.

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.

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 care giving 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 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 2020–21 school year. This includes both spring break and summer camps.

Is there a minimum age for Thinkery Camps?

Yes, campers must be 4 years old by the month before their camp begins to participate in our camp program. If your child does not meet this requirement, consider our Early Learners programs. This age restriction is in place to ensure the success of each individual camper.

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 at thinkerycamps@thinkeryaustin.org to 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 that 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, less the $75 non-refundable fee, are given for cancellations made before May 18, 2020. There are no refunds offered for cancelled registrations after May 18, 2020. 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, you will be refunded your tuition payment in full.

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 five days of Thinkery Camp fun and learning, including hands-on activities. Your registration also includes one Thinkery Camp t-shirt. Extended Care can be purchased for an additional fee.

Can I transfer my Thinkery Camp session to a different week, location or camper?

We cannot accommodate direct transfers to a new camp session. If you need to change the week of your Thinkery Camp, our cancellation policy will apply. Sessions are not transferable to other campers.

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

What happens if the Thinkery Camp I want is full?

You may purchase a Thinkery Camp online at the time most convenient for you. When a spot becomes available in a camp, the reservations website is immediately updated. For this reason, we do not maintain a wait list.

What is Extended Care?

Thinkery Extended Care allows you to drop off your child as early as 8 am (one hour before camp begins) and pick them up by 5:30 pm (90 minutes after camp ends).

Extended Care includes creative and fun activities led and supervised by Thinkery staff. Campers are invited to follow their interests and choose activities they would like to explore each day. Each week, Extended Care will look slightly different and be driven by the interests of the campers.

A late fee of $1 per minute will be charged per family for children not picked up on time starting at 5:30 p.m.  for Thinkery hosted Extended Care.

Thinkery Extended Care is available at three locations – Thinkery, Harmony School of Science, and Harmony School of Innovation. .Extended Care is not available for camps hosted at National Instruments or Silicon Labs.

How do I sign up for Extended Care?

You can purchase Extended Care for the Thinkery location when you register for camp. If you’ve already registered for camp, you may purchase Extended Care by calling Thinkery Reservations at (512) 469-6201.

Extended Care is not available for camps hosted at National Instruments or Silicon Labs.

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

Every 1st–2nd or 3rd–5th grade STEAM themed camp at any site will enjoy a field trip to see STEAM in action at an Austin-area location or a fieldtrip to Thinkery. More information about field trips will be available the first day of camp!

Pre-K-K Campers and 1st-2nd or 3rd-5th Tech Focused campers at Thinkery in Mueller WILL NOT attend field trips.

Does my camp include a field trip to Thinkery for 1st–2nd or 3rd–5th?

Theme	Hosted @ Thinkery	Hosted @ Partner Site
Fantastic Fabrication		✓
GeoExplorers		✓
Notion of Motion		✓
Radical Reactions		✓
Robo-lympics		✓
Level Up		✓
Designing Tomorrow		✓

Does my camp include a STEAM field trip to a location in Austin for 1st–2nd or 3rd–5th?

Theme	Hosted @ Thinkery	Hosted @ Partner Site
Fantastic Fabrication	✓
GeoExplorers	✓
Notion of Motion	✓
Radical Reactions	✓
Robo-lympics
Level Up
Designing Tomorrow

How Thinkery field trips work?

One day during the camp week, our 1st–5th grade campers in STEAM camps at Thinkery in Mueller will attend and experience hour-long field trips to see (first-hand!) where local STEAM innovators are creating and making in our city. On your first day of camp, caregivers will receive a printed and digital parent letter that includes the location and address of your camper’s field trips.

All 1^st -5^th grade campers at our partner locations, Harmony School of Science, Harmony School of Innovation, Silicon Labs and National Instruments will enjoy a field trip to Thinkery. This includes our Tech focused camps.

No Pre-K-K camps at any location will attend field trips.

Thinkery campers travel using Star Shuttle. These buses are equipped with air conditioning, seat belts and certified drivers. The drivers are required to obey all safety laws.

Do you offer financial assistance? How do I apply?

Every year, we offer discounted camps through our scholarship program. If you are interested in applying to the scholarship program, please read the application process on our Registration and Pricing page, or in our Thinkery Camp 2020 Scholarship Application (Spanish version also available). Please note, these scholarships operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

What do I need to submit to be applicable for a scholarship?

Each interested applicant must submit a completed application, including one form of proof of eligibility.

When is the deadline for scholarship applications?

Applications must be received by April 30, 2020 for all Thinkery summer camps. Scholarship applicants will be notified by May 1, 2020.

How can I donate to your scholarship program?

If you are interested in helping make Thinkery Camp a possibility for all, you may donate toward our camp scholarship funds by visiting our Donate Now page. Thank you for helping us realize the reality of camp for all!

What is your tax ID number?

74-228-8789

What options are there for my teenager at Thinkery Camps?

Our Counselors-in-Training (CITs) program includes a one-week training and the opportunity to sign up to take a leadership role in one or multiple camp sessions throughout the summer. CITs work closely with staff mentors to lead fun STEAM-based activities, set individual goals, develop new skills and gain valuable work experience.

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 within one business day.