Summer Camp Attendance and Registration Information

What to Wear and Bring

• Snacks. All camps include a 15-minute snack/play break. Due to allergies and dietary restrictions, the Science Museum does not provide snacks to campers. Please send peanut-free snacks in your child’s lunch bag if you so choose. Campers with allergy concerns will be given access to allergen-free space to enjoy their snack.

• If attending camps or classes all day, bring a bag lunch and a drink.

• Wear closed-toed shoes and comfortable clothing that can get messy.

• Shoes with wheels are prohibited.

• Please leave valuables, like collectible cards and personal electronics, at home.

We advise you to only bring required items from home such as a small bag for snacks, any medications needed while on-site, and a mask if your camper would like. Please do not bring other items from home such as toys. All items brought must be able to fit in the small bag that must stay with your child at all times. The museum is not responsible for lost, missing, or damaged personal items.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up

• You will receive a Child Verification Card via email one week prior to camp. This card must be clearly displayed in your vehicle in order to pick up a child.

• You can drop-off/pick-up your child at our Education Entrance up to 30 minutes before/after their program free of charge.

• Each vehicle MUST be occupied by a qualified driver at all times. Please do not leave your vehicle. We have many children to check-out and we appreciate your patience.

• Leaving your vehicle, especially during pick-up, will cause traffic back-ups and delays for other parents.

• Curbside space is limited, especially during pick-up. Arriving 10 minutes after the program will reduce your wait.

• For safety and security reasons, our staff will be monitoring and directing traffic flow.

• Driving Instructions for finding the Education Entrance can be found here.

The Science Museum is responsible for students’ safety during scheduled program time. We do not release unchaperoned students from programs due to issues of safety and liability. Exceptions will be made for students leaving the museum to meet parents or ride a bus home. Written permission releasing the child must be provided by a parent or guardian.

Lunch

• If your child is attending two half-day camps in the same week, lunch supervision is provided at no extra charge.

• Campers must bring a bagged lunch with a drink. No refrigeration is available.

• Campers are not allowed to use the vending machines or visit the cafeteria.

• Campers with allergy concerns will be given access to an allergen-free space to eat their lunch.

Extended Care

• Morning care costs $35 per week, per child. It begins at 8:00 a.m. and goes until the start of morning classes.

• Afternoon care costs $35 per week, per child. It begins at the end of afternoon classes and goes until 5:00 p.m. There is a charge of $1 per minute if a child is picked up after 5:00 p.m.

• You can purchase extended care when you register for camps. If you have already registered for camps and would like to add extended care, please call 651-221-9444.

Camp Safety

At the Science Museum of Minnesota, we value the safety of our campers, staff, and their families, and believe in the power of science to make lives better.

Evidence shows being up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations including primary series and a booster as eligible is the most effective way to be protected from the virus. We strongly recommend that all who participate in summer camps are up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.  Proof of vaccination will not be required to attend SMM summer camps.

We request all campers wear a mask when indoors at summer camps. While masking will not be required at this time, this policy is subject to change. If it changes, we will update our website.

• Proof of vaccination or a negative test result will not be required.

• Masking is requested when indoors.

• A camper who tests positive for COVID-19 must stay home from camp for at least 5 days or until symptoms have subsided. A prorated portion of the registration fee will be refunded.

Masks will be available onsite and can be provided upon request.

Other suggestions for protecting yourself and others:

• Stay home if you are sick.

• Test regularly for COVID-19, especially if you are in large gatherings.

• If you test positive for COVID-19, isolate for at least five days.

• After testing positive, wear a well-fitting mask on days six through 10.

• If you are unvaccinated and a household member tests positive, quarantine for at least five days.

• If you are exposed to someone who is positive, wear a mask and monitor symptoms for 10 days after exposure.

Camper and staff safety is our most important and valued concern. In accordance with regional public health policies and community infectious disease guidance, any camper that displays indication of respiratory illness may be asked to wear a fitted mask while present during summer camp. 

For more information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/index.html

Behavior Policy

In order to make the experience of our programs a positive one for all students and staff, we have established the following policy to manage chronic behavior incidents, classroom disruptions, and/or safety issues.

Our staff fills out written reports in cases of chronic behavioral or disruptive incidents. If two report forms involving disruption of the whole class, ongoing verbal abuse, leaving the group, or refusal to follow disciplinary or instructional directions are filled out on one child, a parent or guardian will be contacted.

If one report form involving endangering of self, staff, or other students, unsafe use of equipment, or failure to comply with safety guidelines is filled out on one child, a parent or guardian will be contacted. A child will be removed from the program if another incident report form is filed after parent contact is made.

Education material donations

Want to support summer camps and recycle common home goods at the same time? Please bring these materials along with you to your in-person summer camp. If you would like to drop off materials before camps begin, please call our Contact Center at 651-221-9444 to arrange a time to drop them off.

• Paper towel and toilet paper tubes 

• Egg cartons (no styrofoam)

• Plastic bottle/jug caps

• 8-oz., 20-oz., 1-liter & 2-liter plastic pop/water bottles

• Plastic rectangular baby-food containers with lids & glass baby food jars with lids

• Oatmeal & any cylindrical box, like Swiss Miss or Pringles (lids are nice to have)

• Gallon or half-gallon ice cream buckets with handles

• Shoe boxes

• Plastic containers with lids, 16 oz. & smaller (margarine, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc.)

• Grocery bags (paper with handles)

• Spools from thread or adding machines/cash registers

• Mint tins (like Altoids tins)

• Buttons and plastic craft jewelry

• Scrap fabric, ribbon & yarn

• Plastic or fabric plants

• Any small odds and ends ("doodads!") like toys or pieces of toys, packaging, etc.